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supernovasilence · 2 months

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I'M GONNA CRY I JUST SPENT LIKE AN HOUR ON AN ASK AND TRIED TO SAVE IT AS A DRAFT LIKE A FOOL AND NOW IT'S GONE. It was anonymous too I can't even @ the asker ciar I hope you see this ToT

anyway the ask was "please talk more about 'their siblings are all the Pevensies have' " so I'll try to reconstruct what I had

Listen if there's anything I like in fiction it's siblings, and relationships that would probably be unhealthily codependant in real life but this is fiction so it's fine (or you push them that little bit farther into unhealthy and then you have a dark/tragic au, which can be fun too). So thinking about the Pevensies makes me go feral a bit.

Narnia, and her thrones, are a gift, and they're a burden.

The Pevensies gave up their home, their friends, their family, their old lives—even the memory of their old lives—to rule Narnia. And their old lives currently included being sent away into the country to shelter from a war, so they would have lost some of that anyway, and I'm certainly not saying finding Narnia was a bad thing. But it came with sacrifices, and out of all the things they lost, they still have each other. In all the magical, beautiful, wonderful, but strange things they have to learn, their siblings are familiar. Faced with sudden, terrifying responsibility, they can still be just kids, just Pete and Su and Ed and Lu, with each other. And then part of that responsibility is Peter and Susan being parents to Edmund and Lucy as well as siblings, and it's strange and it's familiar and everything gets complicated and messy but it all boils down to they love each other so much.

They're the only humans around. They're the only ones confused by the magical, medieval land they're in. Their friends and advisors do what they can, of course, but in the end the weight of running a country all comes down on four tiny pairs of shoulders; they're the only ones who know how that feels. They make friends, and friends that become like family, but in those early days the only people they've known more than a few days are their siblings. And they've known each other forever. They're the ones that know how to make Peter laugh when he works too hard or coax Susan into cruelly needed bravery and she's terrified or see past Edmund's angry outbursts to what's really bothering him or convince Lucy to be more responsible without telling her she's wrong for being young or emotional or wild. They know the in jokes, the favorite colors, the secret petty hates (Lucy doesn't like bugs, if you make Peter wear gray he won't be able to focus all day because all he can think about is how much he hates wearing gray), the little tricks to cheer each other up. They know how to soothe each other out of nightmares and the sort of places they hide when they want to cry.

And they're the only ones who understand how they can have the magical joy that is their new life and still be sad. They're the only ones who remember England, everything and everyone they knew there. Later, when Narnia has soothed their homesickness with cruel mercy, they're the only ones who know what it is to miss what you can no longer remember, who understand the ache that still gets into your gets into your dreams some nights, long after you know the words and the names to explain.

And then they go back.

Once again, they lose home; once again, their siblings are all they keep. Digory went to Narnia, but he knew her for a few days in her infancy. He doesn't know her castles, hasn't learned her dances, hasn't ridden for leagues through her forests or sailed her seas. He doesn't know what it's like to lose years of your life in an instant. He still remembers the names of months and how to use common household items. He wanted to come back, so he could embrace his mother and make her well. The Pevensies were thrown out without warning, and their mother is far away under bomb-filled skies. But they still have each other. Peter still tries to lead, stumbling, scared, and the others try to support him; Edmund struggles; Lucy runs wild; Susan is frightened. It's strange and it's familiar.

They return to Narnia; it's broken, changed, a thousand years too old. Of everyone the Pevensies knew in the Golden Age, their siblings are all they have left. No one else understands how strange it all is, so much the same but so different, how it feels to be a legend.

Alright this got much longer than I planned and there are two diverging rambles from here so. I'm gonna start with my thoughts on the Pevensies' dynamic in my preferred and-then-they-get-to-keep-Narnia-somehow headcanon, and below the read more will be my thoughts about canon.

They're allowed to stay this time, and rule alongside Caspian. All Narnia has assumed, of course, that the kings and queens of old would. Only the Pevensies know the relief the others feel. Only they understand the secret mistrust they feel, too, that Aslan's promise will be a lie. Some Narnians have utter faith in him, and would think such doubt inconceivable (especially from the four he fought alongside, and died for), or even blasphemous. Some would have preferred if Jadis came back, or are wary of authority altogether after so long under the Telmarines, but Aslan is a story to them, not seen for centuries. He was the Pevensies' friend. Their doubt is mingled with the taste of betrayal, and shame for feeling so.

The Pevensies rebuild Narnia once more, not from ice this time but iron chains. The work is familiar and it isn't; Narnia is the same and it isn't. All Narnia cheers when Cair Paravel is rebuilt, but the Pevensies are the only ones left alive who called it home.

If this is an au where the Pevensies simply never go back after PC, then they are once again the only ones who remember England, and the people they left behind. They aren't surprised when someone says "I'm homesick" while standing in their bedroom in Cair Paravel, know who their siblings are talking about when they ask "do you think they're doing okay? we'll be dead before they even know we're missing", understand how they can be living such a joyous life and still carry a little ember of sorrow in them all the time. If this is an au where the Pevensies still travel between the worlds, but with more time spent in Narnia and a guarantee to always return there, then they are the only ones who know how confusing that is, living two lives, and how hard it is, lying to your family about so much that's so important to you.

But their siblings are family too, and always there no matter the world, and as long as they have each other, the Pevensies can survive anything. Susan is famous for her beauty, and they all four laugh the day she gets her first silver hair, the first among any of them.

"The dear little friends are going senile now," Trumpkin mutters, in his grumbly, affectionate way, and Susan just laughs and says,

"Oh, I quite plan to,"

because Peter is giving her hand a squeeze while Edmund and Lucy beam, and she knows they all understand what this means. They are growing and greying and living, here, in Narnia. They have been and they will. They never got old enough to go grey, the first time round. And they will get very grey indeed, and very old, and they will have lots of friends and a large extended family, and lots of people will have lots of pieces of them. But, though those things get fewer, there will still be some things that only their siblings understand best, because they knew each other first.

(Honestly my base headcanon is actually the Pevensies as a set morphing somewhere along the way into the Pevensies + Caspian as a set, but the point is these siblings spend years being the only ones being each other's closest people and it shows.)

Alright now the acknowledging-canon-for-once option!

They leave again. Peter and Susan know it's forever. Edmund and Lucy now know there is a forever away from Narnia, waiting for them someday. They think of the Professor, who still dreams about the world he saw for a few days as a child. How comforting his stories had seemed before! How sad they seem now, a lifetime spent missing what you will never have again! The Pevensies go to stiff, unhappy boarding schools, and are surrounded by people who don't understand everything they have lost, everything they will lose.

Perhaps cruelest of all, they begin then to be ripped away from their one constant: each other. The Pevensies return to the train platform where they were waiting to catch two different trains: one to the boys' school and one to the girls'. Peter and Susan can't talk through their complicated knot of loss and relief and confusion, can't console each other or offer answers to the question of "what now?". Edmund and Lucy can't share their own relief, their anxiety. Lucy can't cheer Peter up or ask him if losing Narnia can really be okay. Susan can't toss away Edmund's fears with calm logic when he's loses his temper at bullies and fears he's slipping back into old ways, or listen to him tell her she's still brave and beautiful and important and safe even though everyone treats her as a child (a girl-child, at that) and the newspapers speak of war.

The ties binding them fray a little more, and a little more, and a little more. The next summer, Peter goes to study with the Professor. Their parents take Susan to America. Edmund and Lucy are sent to their aunt and uncle. They come back with tales of months at sea, of their friends Caspian and Reepicheep and Aslan. They are all Peter and Susan will ever get of Narnia again. Peter and Susan are the only ones who understand the pain Edmund and Lucy are now feeling, knowing they're never going back, the ones who teach them how to breathe through it until breathing no longer hurts.

It's not enough. Fray and fray and fray. Thread by thread. Susan works hard to live in this world Aslan told her to live in. What right has she to do otherwise? The other three cling to a duty handed to them by prophecy when they were children. What right have they to ignore that? They grow up. Three of them go to university or get jobs and probably move out. (Lucy did not. I'm trying to keep this neutral and not rant-about-how-much-I-hate- canon but I won't ignore that Lucy was seventeen when she died.) They drift apart.

Digory forms the "friends of Narnia". Peter, Edmund, and Lucy are united again, bound together by their shared experiences as they have ever been. It's not the same, Susan is not there, but it's enough.

(Extra painful fun fact! When I typed "Peter, " my phone suggested "susan" as the next word! I have typed "Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy" so often even my phone expects them to be a set! This is fine!)

The Last Battle, the train crash. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy die. Susan buries them, and there is no one left to understand all she is mourning. Her last link to a home she cannot bear to acknowledge aloud. The children she played with. The adults she saw them grow into. She knows what Lucy would look like grown, either because she still remembers Narnia and won't admit it or subconsciously somewhere inside her, but Lucy will never be twenty-three this time around.

Peter, Edmund, and Lucy wait in "true" Narnia. Again, they dwell in magical splendour, and ache in their dreams. This time, they remember who they are missing. Still, they are surrounded by joy, and time does not seem very important anymore, so overall they are happy. (It's not the same, Susan is not there, but it's enough.) Susan lives and learns and mourns and makes her peace and comes to Narnia in her own time, the only one of them to grow old and the last to grow ageless. It's easy to forget sorrow, in that place; when Susan embraces her siblings, the only ones who understand how badly she has missed them are them, because they have missed her just the same. But now they are complete again, and that's all that matters.

#nova actually answers asks #the chronicles of narnia #pevensie siblings #peter pevensie #susan pevensie #edmund pevensie #lucy pevensie #the lion the witch and the wardrobe #prince caspian #the voyage of the dawn treader #the last battle #long post //#this got /so/ long i'm sorry #also halfway through it turned into an examination of the patterns of the pevensies' lives?#repeating and paralleling themselves and going back and forth and somehow forward or maybe sideways #lucy's dislike of bugs is canon #peter's dislike of wearing gray is not #capslock //

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girlfriendsofthegalaxy · 6 months

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tuesday again 11/7/2023

three days until my birthday problems. i have been very busy with 1) prepping my costume for ren faire and 2) onboarding a new henchwoman to the evil lair, a talented little tabby we're immediately extending full health benefits to with no trial period

listening

good morning afternoon by rebecca sugar. if i had not already known it was rebecca sugar by the voice and the understated guitar, i would have known it was her by the gorgeous synthy chimey chimes. spotify

youtube

on my release radar playlist

reading

stop fucking using personally identifiable details in your passwords. also stop reusing your passwords and burner emails. especially if you're doing crime

A pivotal clue for validating the research into Apathyp/Fearlless came from the identity intelligence firm myNetWatchman, which found that [email protected] at one time used the passwords “геззи1991” (gezze1991) and “gezze18081991.” Care to place a wager on when Vkontakte says is Mr. Sherban’s birthday? Ten points if you answered August 18 (18081991). Mr. Sherban did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

watching

the 2006 anime BLACK LAGOON, we're going to yoink this from wikipedia bc it's serviceable enough

The series follows the Lagoon Company, a four-member team of pirate mercenaries smuggling goods in and around the seas of Southeast Asia with their PT boat, the Black Lagoon. The group takes on various jobs, usually involving criminal organizations and resulting in violent gunfights.

unfortunately i am genetically inclined to boats and ex-military boats. it is extremely 2006 in sensibility and animation choices. there are remarkably sophisticated and fun battle sequences, and a lot of ass but little upskirting. revy (pictured below) is a dual-wielding gunslinger who is simply the worst. horrible woman that gets space to have a bit of a messy complex character arc and have a messy complex time of it. her writing and character are quite good period, not just quite good for 2006. i adore her.

the second episode has our pirates take out a helicopter with a torpedo boat (no deck guns! they just use the torpedo!) in a way that made me stand up, lift mackintosh above my head, and hoot like a tusken raider.

youtube

this is about as violent as your average spaghetti western, and much like spaghetti westerns i don't think the series is always successful in using its setting to make points about grey morality and not like. shock for shock's sake? certainly one to look up trigger warnings for.

the why: now i have a bootleg chromecast i have been watching more things on my actual television, remembered "hey this exists on hulu why didn't i finish it several years ago". still not sure why i didn't finish this several years ago. i am pirating the second season, but it's the sub which is a shame bc i quite like the dubbed voice actors, but it's a nightmare trying to find a dub with subtitles. i rarely have the patience to fuss with my own subtitle files.

playing

turnip boy commits tax evasion, a 2021 game that was recently free on Epic. it is the studio Snoozy Kazoo's first game. i had a very strange time with this, bc the first fifteen minutes up to the first boss fight lulled me into a sense of complacency and then the minute i had to do something slightly complicated at the first boss fight (pay attention to my timing) i lost interest. i don't know if i will return to this, bc the humor didn't always hit for me (extremely online, but twitter online) and there's a major genshin update later this week.

youtube

making

new evil lair employee, phil (short for philip marlowe)

recap of tragic backstory: i had seen her Around for about a week or so, realized on friday night when i scared her out of the dumpster that she had something stuck to her, and didn't see her again until sunday night, when she was too lethargic to skitter away from the dumpster. she has a VERY gnarly wound on her left flank and leg, the urgent care vet thinks she got dragged or caught in something. it is healing remarkably well, all things considered, and it's not infected bc the thing stuck to her was some vetwrap. so someone at some point patched her up?

she is SO full of milk. i have not found the kittens but there are a Lot of strays in this neighborhood, so my hope is that some other momma cat has engaged in some kidnapping.

i have a formal vet appt on the 17th for mackie that ive added phil to, so we'll see about her heart murmur, if she has a microchip (unlikely) and getting her spayed after she heals up a bit more.

mackintosh is Fucking Pissed!!! we will do incredibly slow introductions and phil will probably live in the office/guest suite for. several months. i had not originally planned on adding another henchwoman so soon, but i do have the spare bedroom, the shelter wasn't doing intakes or clinic appointments until friday, and the wound. really could not have waited until friday. it was free cat.

#tuesday again #tuesday again no problem #Youtube

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writtengalaxies · 1 year

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A Confession At Knife-point

Cup God Chronicles :: Part 4

Characters: God of Night, GN!Reader

Word Count: 730

Spicy Rating: Our dear reader has a foul mouth, so expect a lot of f-bombs y'all!

You stare across the table at him.

The God of Night has his hands folded in front of him, trying to keep his eyes anywhere but on the glow-in-the-dark plastic cup you're sipping juice from, the book open to that last ritual, and your face. Finally, you sigh, putting the cup down, folding your hands in front of your face. Sure, you feel a bit like an anime villain, but...the man made you a promise.

"I didn't die. So start talking. What's so ooky-spooky about this ritual that makes you so skittish?"

"How much do you understand of what's written here?"

You shrug, pointing out the sections. "This basically reads like it's a spell for a messy break up, but I can't read most of the page."

He sighs, honest to gods (ha) sighs, like a melodramatic teenager. "It's...more complicated than that."

"Explain it to me, then."

"I...I would rather not-"

"You made a deal, dude. What's in the damn book."

"...I don't have many followers. You're...you're honestly my only one any more, even by technicality. I exist because I am Night, and--"

"I don't care about your tragic backstory right now. Why's this spell freaking you out so bad. Just means I get my privacy back, right?

"It..." He sighs again, and you resist the urge to roll your eyes. "It...it isn't just severing the connection between us. It...it takes from you."

"Like, what? I'll get dizzy, or--"

"Emotionally. It cuts out part of your emotional range as payment. It's not meant to make it...easy. You lose part of yourself. Based on what I've seen in the past, your particular witticisms, your sarcasm, your....you-ness...You might be a strange, weird little mortal, but you're my strange, weird little mortal--" He takes a breath, his hand covering the part of his face you can see, like he's embarrassed about saying that. "If you truly want me gone, I'll...I'll find a different way to sever our connection, I swear. I promise. But just...I..." He swallows, a motion you're not really certain he needs to do, before he speaks again. "I...I'm fond of you, in a way I haven't been in a very long time...and...I would be...put out if you lost your...spark, starlight."

You blink. He's never called you anything but 'mortal' before. Not your name, and certainly not what could best be described as a pet name.

You sigh, shoving to your feet to go process things, get a slice of cake. You bought it as a treat to yourself, and by fucking god, did you need it now. The last thought, that last word really lingered, however, and you turned, brandishing the knife as you started talking.

"Wait a fucking second. Why did you call me starlight? What kind of--Are you blushing?" The god shifted to turn away from you, leaving you to follow him around the table, trying to catch his attention. "You are! Why are you--oh my fuck. Do you have a crush on me?" He continued to look away, leaving you laughing almost hysterically as you headed back to the cake, gesturing as you spoke. "This is how I find out. Fucking figures! First time someone does in forever, and it's a god with a problem with personal space--"

"Please, starlight, can we talk about this--will you please put the knife down before I actually tell you--" He squawked, staring at you, then over his shoulder, where the the object you just threw rolled to a stop. "Did you just throw a cup at my head?!"

"I dunno, did you just decide to call me sweet things like we're already lovers?"

"...Fair point, but...perhaps...perhaps I am fond of you in that way as well. I just...you're interesting in many ways, and everything I learn about you I carry with me through each night..."

You stare at him for a long time, then sigh. "Do it properly."

"...Sorry, what?"

"If you're going to try to flirt with me, do it properly. Woo me, motherfucker. Flowers. Dates...I don't know if gods do dates, but I'm not just gonna say 'oh boy! Time for deific dalliances!', you gotta work for this."

"...You're...not opposed. To..."

"We'll see. I'm not a cheap date."

You give him a smirk, not unlike the ones he's used to giving you.

It's worth it to see the small, truly happy smile come to life on his face.

#nighttime bastardass #the god of night #night x reader #my writing #cup god chronicles #gn!reader #council of the gods

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vitalphenomena · 3 months

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💖 (Now you indulge MY disgusting curiosity!)

Send a 💖 and I’ll tell you what a relationship would be like with my character:

How likely they are to enter a relationship with them:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

There's a lot to unpack here —namely dealing with Kieran Glass—but I think I can see it really well!

Would they…

Make the first move? Yes | No — I feel like this is just obvious? From The Way That He Is and the way that their thread is going. Cain is not often an initiator. Say “I love you” first? Yes | No — It seems like they'll be in a race for this one! If Cain feels it, and the situation is healthy, he's going to express himself. He's so constantly repressed that it can be difficult to actually express himself, but he really wants to! Cheat on them? Yes | No — This one is actually surprising for me to realize? He spent so much of his life not monogamous because of how Kieran's community is set up, but. He's capable of change, I think. Be the jealous type? Yes | No — He wouldn't mind that Hank is — he'd quite like it — but he just isn't. Not after Kieran, not after the time he spent in Glass as a whole. (He's had a lot of orgies, been in a lot of strange threesomes and polyamorous situations. He just doesn't really do jealousy anymore.) Plan the dates? Yes | No — I agree that a team effort happens here! It's necessary with where they are in their lives, I think. Initiate the first kiss? Yes | No — Coward. Remember anniversaries? Yes | No — I agree that they both are very intentional about remembering these and trying to do something intimate/cute/meaningful for the big ones. I think Cain's idea of which ones matter is different, though.

BOLD WHAT APPLIES:

Their Relationship Is:

PUBLIC Displays of Affection:

PRIVATE Displays of Affection:

Do they stay together?

I love the image of Cain old and married with literally anybody but Kieran. Obviously.

But if we do this I'm probably gonna find a way to fuck it up somehow.

BONUS

What terrible pet names would they give each other?

He's really not the "terrible pet name" type at all. Also, Sugar Cain does not stick—especially because the pronunciation of Cain's name differs if he's being authentic to himself and not conforming to white-washed norms he embraces when he's in academia and with Kieran. A decent amount of things about him change when not with Kieran.

#:D #CAIN&HENRY.

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flowers-of-io · 2 years

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did aurash discover the god-wave at the tungsten monoliths or did sathona discover the god-wave when the dead worm/the witness told her about it. what is the Truth

The timeline tracks for Aurash, but I'm pretty sure she first heard about the syzygy from her father and figured out it would cause the god-wave. Xi Ro notices how Aurash was "afraid of the moon waves" and "when she comes back from the Tungsten Monoliths, I will ask her why", but doesn't necessarily say that's where Aurash learned something or that she'd gone there to study the syzygy in the first place (though it's plausible). Aurash wrote to her sisters that at the Monoliths she learned the Krill's home planet had crashed into Fundament; I'm so interested WHAT was it that made the Monoliths so enlightening, and it's Not Explained Ever, Ugh.

I'm also pretty certain Sathona only came into possession of the dead worm once they were escaping the palace during the coup, after the king's death. While the TWQ cutscene does make it seem as if the worm enlightened her about the god-wave generally, I'm more inclined to think its words rather doubled down on what she'd already known from Aurash ("we will stoke her fear...") and proffered that she could save them still ("...her pride").

The YOUNG SATHONA, THE END IS COMING cutscene doesn't make much sense if someone hasn't read the first chapters of the Books of Sorrow generally, but I puzzled a lot at Ikora's reaction ("They were tricked, the Hive were lied to"). I'd assumed she read the Books, and from spending enough time piecing things that happen in there together one would easily come to the realisation the worms had played the Hive like a fiddle, but "[they] were lied to" seemed too... straightforward, I guess, to apply to the situation? The worms and/or the Witness DID trick the Krill into the pact with empty promises, they HAD created a situation that forced the sisters to ask them for help in resolving it (@xivu-arath's initial idea, I believe, amd one I'm very much behind, that the worms/general Darkness pulled various planets to Fundament to populate it & later caused the strange movements of the moon because Gravity Is Evil In Destiny), but the only lie they spread was that the Traveler had been behind the syzygy. And that's something which is not mentioned in the cutscene whatsoever! More, the phrasing there does make it seem like the "lie" had been the entire god-wave itself -- that there would be no cataclysm actually, that the Witness saw the Traveler approach Fundament and made something up on the go to scare the sisters into desperately finding salvation. That there never /was/ a god-wave.

That's an exquisitely tragic take, I admit, and it completely disproves anything stated in the Books, because the syzygy had been an observable phenomenon (the king even noted how "the moons are different!") and the god-wave did sweep over Fundament. For quite some time now I've believed the Traveler had been meaning to go to Fundament and prevent the syzygy in the first place (and it's amazing to see your theories confirmed in game but bungie please stealing my fic ideas.....) and only backtracked to one of the moons when the worms emerged. I get how this is too complicated a long con to explain in a minute-long cutscene, though, and Ikora's reaction might have been instinctive, before she got the chance to sort the new information out and compare it to the Books.

Tl;dr: Aurash learned about the god-wave first, but Sathona learned from the worm about a way to "save" them. The new cutscene is messy and at first glance contradicts the Books, but turns out it doesn't if you rotate it in your head a few times. The Hive were "tricked and lied to", but not about the god-wave as much as in regards to who had caused it.

#replies that were meant to be short but here i am typing this for 20 minutes #reply #svedupelle #books of sorrow #destiny 2 the witch queen #aurash #sathona #ikora rey #worm gods

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positivelybeastly · 3 months

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💖 (probably would only work with one of the younger versions of Hank, but I'm curious).

How likely they are to enter a relationship with them:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

(Yeah, this is the kind of thing I'd see working best with time displaced Hank, to be honest - he had a very cute one-off relationship with a science student during a crossover with Superior Spider-Man, and I could see some of that same energy in a relationship with Doreen, though obviously the dynamic would be shifted more in favour of Doreen's open and free nature than the scientific interest they shared.)

Would they…

Make the first move? Yes | No (Time displaced Hank has much fewer hangs ups, tbh! He's not got many body issues, he knows he looks pretty handsome, and he would definitely invite her out for a coffee or a movie if she expressed an interest in him.)

Say “I love you” first? Yes | No (I do feel like this version of Hank is less emotionally expressive than the ones who come after him, more willing to ignore his feelings because they're inconvenient or seem like they'd be a distractions, so Doreen would likely have to pull the trigger here.)

Cheat on them? Yes | No (Hank has never been the type. Also, the squirrels would get him.)

Be the jealous type? Yes | No (Naaaah, doesn't feel like his sort of thing. He hasn't had his heart broken yet, he doesn't think it's something to worry about.)

Plan the dates? Yes | No (Be warned, they're mostly going to be museums and slightly more boring locations for a while until he discovers how to really have fun.)

Initiate the first kiss? Yes | No (If he feels safe to go in for it, I could see it. Again, I . . . don't regard the Jean weirdness as canon - either instance of it - but regardless, he wouldn't feel any shame in going for it.)

Remember anniversaries? Yes | No (But only the most important ones. I don't feel like he's sentimental enough yet to mark them ALL down.)

BOLD WHAT APPLIES:

Their Relationship Is:

PUBLIC Displays of Affection:

PRIVATE Displays of Affection:

Do they stay together?

(Unfortunately, he has a date with destiny, and it's going to be very strange if she ever runs into adult Hank with all those memories unlocked.)

BONUS

What terrible pet names would they give each other?

I don't feel as though this is their sort of thing! Hank hasn't quite grown into this habit yet, and it doesn't feel like a Doreen love language to me.

#thissquirrelgirl #less spicy shipping meme #outofmuffins

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didisteponurmoment · 2 years

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Loud thoughts and orchestrated parties (Wandanat x Reader)

Summary ➞ The avengers offer a little help with an orchestrated party so you can -finally- confess your crush in Wanda and Natasha and stop making a fool of yourself.

Pairings ➞ Wandanat x female reader

Words ➞ 5045

Warnings ➞ None, Fluff with a super brief mention of sexual thoughts

A/N ➞ Hi, I'm back! i had intentions to add smut for this part of the story but i felt it wasn't natural to add it in this one shot, so i'm going to post it separately in the next few days.

Let me know what you think and remember that requests are open.

After that battle in which you were freed from Hydra's experiments on that island whose name you could never decipher, life became better in almost every way. At only 23 years old, your expectations of being someone special were fading, but the Avengers took you on as part of the team even though you initially came close to killing them, deciding that your special power to control water could be of help to them, and offering you a place to move in with them in the compound if you were willing to risk everything to protect the world.

There were several reasons why you agreed without hesitation from the first moment Steve asked you if you would like to join the team (among them that you had nowhere else to go or that you had lost everything in that battle where the base you had called home for so many years was destroyed), but secretly, kept deep in your thoughts, two reasons stood out. Two reasons that made you blush with every glance, and that made you so nervous that they could make your powers glitch if they were close: Wanda and Natasha.

When you arrived at your new home, everyone was surprisingly sympathetic to your past actions. Wanda, Sam told you, had lived a life much like yours, in which in a particularly terrible battle, she had been freed from hydra, like you, but not before being subjected to enhancement at the hands of a gem of strange provenance, and losing her twin brother, Pietro, in the most tragic way.

The witch was very affectionate from the beginning, trying to improve your state of regret by preparing you hot tea and offering you to join many of her plans with her girlfriend, Natasha.

Natasha (at least according to the rumors of your other companions) was the rougher of the two, due to her complicated past in the red room, she had a lot of difficulties opening up and it used to take her a while to trust you... but you never experienced this, since maybe because of her experience with Wanda having lived through the same thing, she was understanding and kind to you.

Wanda had been dating Natasha for a few months, but since you arrived, you felt that you were spending most of your free time with them, forming a good bond of friendship, which, no matter how hard you tried, didn't fool the rest of the team.

The first time anyone noticed it was when one morning before training, just two weeks after your arrival, Peter, Steve, Bucky and you were having breakfast in the kitchen. Peter had joined the avengers shortly before you, so you shared the rookie title and had formed a good friendship. The conversation among everyone present went on about how Tony and Pepper were set to leave for some cool-ass vacation soon, as Steve handed out the pancakes he had prepared.

Wanda and Natasha entered the room then, with their hair messy and their pajamas still on.

‘Hey guys," Nat said as Wanda rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Instead of starting their breakfasts directly, they both stopped behind your stool to give you a hug from behind and a kiss on the head "Morning y/n” They both said.

The gesture, in both cases, lasted about a second and was only noticed by the team member who, sitting next to you with his arachnid senses, noticed your blushing at the gesture since everyone else was still talking about Tony’s Holidays plans.

The girlfriends stole four pancakes from Steve's stack and placed them with their hot drinks on a tray, ready to eat their breakfast back in their room, watching you out of the corner of their eyes throughout the process. Wanda discreetly approached Nat to whisper something in her ear, to which Nat simply nodded with a half-smile giving you a look. If you hadn't been watching them so intently and had been participating in the conversation, you might have missed this little exchange.

"Y/n/n, we are going to have breakfast in our room, would you like to come with us?'' said Wanda directing her beautiful smile at you '' Surely you're already bored of listening to Steve complain about how he never gets a vacation" you chuckled under your breath. Of course, you wanted to say yes, but Steve decided to drop his conversation to answer the witch before you had a chance to do so.

"Ha ha, how funny. Y/n has training with me in 15 minutes and she better finish breakfast fast, because every time we train and she uses her powers, I end up having to dry out the gym and I have things to do today. Right y/n?" Bucky looked at Steve like he was crazy. Being the observant one, he had noticed your crush earlier and wondered if Steve was blind and that's why he didn't notice what he had just done.

"Uhh, I guess," you replied embarrassed, "Can we do something later?'

Natasha smiled with the tray in her hand. Wanda next to her pouted tenderly, "Of course krasivyy, come look for us when training is over".

You didn't understand what that word Natasha had used meant, but there was no doubt that listening to any of the girls speaking in their native language made you feel something you couldn't explain. You were crushing, bad.

The girls were just leaving the room when the conversation started:

"So y/n," said Peter, 'How long have you had this crush on Nat or Wanda?' Steve turned to look at Bucky confused about the conversation, while you just turned red as a tomato “Or is it both of them?”

"Uhhhh " you said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"What are you talking about?" interrupted Steve, confused.

“Don't even try to fool me y/n, it was so obvious” Peter insisted mockingly “from the time they came in until they left you didn't answer a single question we asked you, you just stood there and blinked' you tried to deny the situation but your argument was unconvincing.

“Cut the bullshit y/n" said Bucky "You are a terrible liar. I didn't say anything before because I thought it was obvious for all of us, but you should do something about it, they like you too".

With this comment you gave up, seeing that they already knew the truth.

'Okay, yeah, but there's no way they're going to like me back. Do I even have to mention that they are a couple with each other? I don't stand a chance, better to keep my crush a secret and wait for it to pass" you finished.

“Oh Y/L/N” Bucky said “You're literally love blind. You’ll see I’m right”

“Whatever” You mumbled and finished your food.

You thought no one noticed the discreet glances you were giving the two red-haired women, but apparently, everyone else did.

You were so busy trying to keep it a secret, that you couldn't notice that they also looked at you in a special way. In fact, they treated you in a special way. On movie nights, they always kept a place for you between the two of them, invited you to spend as much time as possible with them, and even took every opportunity to hug you, especially Wanda, who was the most demonstrative of the two girlfriends.

They, however, had the same fear as you. At first, they had never contemplated the possibility of opening the door to anyone else in their relationship, but with you it just made sense. However, they did not allow themselves to fantasize much about it, they had no idea if you even liked girls, but they were almost certain that you were not attracted to them, which despite being super far from reality, was understandable because you got so nervous when you were alone that sometimes you made excuses to avoid the situation. None of the three dared to take any steps in fear of ruining the friendship, something that infuriated Tony terribly.

"I've had enough, I'm going to make Wanda, Natasha and Y/N do something, it's getting embarrassing that Y/N can't approach the girls without shaking. Team, party tomorrow. Mandatory attendance, especially for these three" He said one day in front of some of the guys after you were distracted by watching Wanda and Nat walk around, and you flooded part of his lab.

It was Tony himself who informed you of the party. He came over right at the end of your training with Steve and took it upon himself to let you know that attendance was mandatory. Steve simply nodded energetically.

"What do we need a party for?" asked Natasha as she entered the gym in her tight sportswear. Your hands unconsciously made it start to rain inside the gym from the surprise of seeing her in those clothes.

"Exactly for this reason" replied Tony overwhelmed. Steve shot him a look, which caused Tony to add with the least convincing sarcasm "Not the rain, A well-deserved break from training."

You just nodded, embarrassed by the rain caused, but at that moment Wanda walked in wearing an outfit very similar to her girlfriend's, causing the rain to start coming down harder. You let out a cry of frustration, trying to evaporate the water, while Wanda and Natasha laughed and Tony and Cap shared an annoyed, but complicit look.

Natasha and Wanda were as oblivious to the team's plans as you were, but everyone knew that Tony didn't like it when either of the team members didn't attend his parties, so half an hour before the party they started changing.

Natasha opted for a tight red dress, which left her breasts quite exposed and was too short to be comfortable. She paired it with high heels and her hair loose over her shoulders. She looked hot. Wanda opted for an emerald green dress, with discreet transparencies in specific areas. It was less fitted than the spy's but just as sexy. Her shoes were black heels and a scarlet red adorned her lips.

The two avengers were hoping to get your attention, but they did it more out of habit than with the hope of getting to something real. The witch watched her girlfriend suffer with the zipper of her dress from across the room, spellbound. They were terribly in love with each other. Wanda reached over to pull up the zipper and left little kisses on her girlfriend's neck. Natasha turned around when the zipper was up and grabbing her girlfriend by her small waist, gave her a kiss on the lips and another on her forehead.

"Thank you. I love you, moya lyubov. You look beautiful'"

‘I love you more, detka, you look more beautiful" replied the scarlet witch with a smile.

Meanwhile, in your room, Peter insisted that you dress for the occasion. It was almost suspicious that he was so excited about going to one of Tony's parties because he always get teased during them for being the youngest. Of course, he had a task you didn't know about. You rolled your eyes many times but when you noticed that he wasn't going to let you miss this party, you showed him a couple of options and he helped you choose a black dress that highlighted all your curves.

You changed in a second and waited for his approval when you came out of the bathroom.

"It looks perfect on you, y/n, come on, you have some conquests to make.”

"Huh?"

"Nothing" said Peter in panic "it's hypothetical?"

Not giving it any more thought, you followed him out of the room, unaware that your days at the compound were about to change forever.

You entered the party room and the first things your eyes saw were Nat and Wanda. The spy had her hands on the younger one's waist, and you felt distressed and regretful for coming at that moment, but quickly Natasha made eye contact with you and smiled, whispering something to Wanda who turned around in a second to look at you as well.

"Y/N??" Peter said almost shouting when you didn't answer him the first three times "Oh my god, you have it BAD'

You shushed him, blushing because you stood there so long looking at them and had been caught by the couple coming up to greet you. It was almost as if they did it on purpose as if they knew about your crush and wanted to make fun of you.

The couple confidently approached where you were standing with Peter, Wanda was the first to hug you. Taking you by surprise.

“You look so gorgeous Y/N/N!" said Natasha when Wanda was hugging you tighter than necessary.

“You do" said Wanda still in the hug. When the witch released you, Natasha gave you a kiss on the cheek, sending a shiver down your spine and a blush up your neck and to your cheeks.

On the other side of the room, Maria, Carol, Thor, Yelena and Sam watched the scene discussing how it was possible that neither party could notice the effect it was having on the other. Carol even proposed a wager, which Yelena immediately joined, on who would finally make the first move. Carol bet on you, and Yelena bet on her sister, assuring that once she realized your feelings, she would be the one to make it happen.

The party began to fill up soon after, making both of them and you steal glances at each other from different parts of the room. Since none of you knew that this was a different party planned to bring you together, you decided to do what you were supposed to do at one of Tony's regular parties, talking a bit with all the guests and not just with each other.

When you met Natasha near the bar, after making your way around the room, she offered to make you a drink, Peter who was passing by, recommended you to show Nat your party trick, so while she was pouring the juice, with your powers you made the vodka fly from the bottle to the glass, but due to lack of control that having her around caused, the liquid fell out of the glass, staining Peter's shoes. You and the spy laughed heartily. Both too absorbed to notice the special affection in the looks you shared.

Wanda on the other hand was watching the scene from the other side of the party, seeing the two girls she loved the most having fun, she approached to ask for a drink too, and with her powers, she added to the things floating in the air, three glasses for shots.

The whole team watched the scene discreetly, and when the three of you seemed to have had enough shots (except Natasha, who could have had 50 and carried on as normal), they decided to put into action part two of their plan to get you, at last, over your crush.

By this point in the party, you were already a little tipsy, your alcohol tolerance much lower than the redheads. The unknown guests were starting to leave, and the party was down to the closest members of the team. That's when Tony spoke up.

“Time to play a game!" the other team members feigned annoyance, the reaction they would have usually had to Tony proposing a game, but without complaint, they joined in the round. Natasha and Wanda approached from where they stood by a window and you and Peter also took a seat in the round. "What do you think about truth and dare?'

"Really Tony? What are we 15?" said Natasha with a laugh.

"Well, I actually think Peter is that age, right spider boy?"

"Hey, I'm 18!" said Peter next to you.

"Whatever you said big boy" replied Tony and everyone laughed around the table “okay, I’ll start”

Several rounds quickly pass by without you noticing, you are too busy watching the two girls who have not yet had their turn and who are laughing with the rest of the group. They catch you glancing at them once or twice but just smiled back without giving it much thought. Wanda is sitting on Natasha's lap, who caresses the younger girl's hip bone tenderly while they are both attentive to the game.

Tony challenges Peter to text Mary J telling her that he likes her, Steve kisses Bucky, Sam confesses that his favorite avenger is Hawkeye, because he is also a bird but with more seniority and Carol invites Maria on a date. It's then Natasha's turn.

"Nat, truth or dare?" asks Maria with a mocking smirk. Natasha is unfazed and chooses truth giving little importance to Maria's question. "Have you ever had a crush on anyone on the team other than Wanda?' Wanda is just as relaxed as if the answer her girlfriend gives as she looks you in the eye with confidence is the most obvious answer in the world.

"Yes, yes I do," Natasha says. You pause at the strange use of words - I do- but your heart really stops for the couple holding your gaze during and a few seconds after this confession. You swear you are imagining things, so you just get another drink and feel the alcohol kick in and temporarily distract you from your thoughts.

Next up, it's Wanda's turn, and Natasha asks her if she prefers truth or dare. Wanda chooses dare and when the spy is about to pick one for the witch, Yelena interrupts with her accent accented by drinking a lot of alcohol.

"It's not fair for Natasha to choose Wanda's dare, let someone else choose it. Y/N, why don't you choose a dare for her?"

Eyes land on you, very flushed and snapped out of your trance, you try to stammer out a response to make the moment pass

"Uhh, well, Wanda I dare you to... "after a moment of silence and your impatient teammates demanding the dare, you end up choosing the lamest dare of all "crawl to the kitchen and get me a glass of water." The whole team looks at you in confusion at such a strange challenge. Tony even mutters unheard that you might need more help than a party. But when Wanda shrugs her shoulders and climbs down Nat's lap, you suddenly regret your stupid dare decision. Wanda's cleavage is exposed and although no one else seems to be affected by this, it's almost as if she's doing it seductively. Natasha chuckles, as if aware of her girlfriend's antics. Wanda creeps into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water by the time the next round is over, but your eyes don't leave her for a second. She leaves the glass of water in your hand, walking through the round without paying attention to anyone else, and leaves you a kiss on your cheek that makes you blush again when she returns to her place on Nat.

When you want to remember, it's your turn, between the alcohol and the fact that you're in awe of the redheads, you prefer to play it safe and choose truth. It's Bucky who asks the question.

"Do you like women y/n/n?" you glare at him. You know he knows that not only do you like women, but you like two who are in this same circle playing. Speaking of these two women, they suddenly seem much more interested in the game, looking at you with their eyebrows cocked, waiting for your answer.

"Yeah, I'm gay" and you could almost swear the redheads smiled on the other side of the round.

From this moment on, your head starts to run much faster, thoughts about the two women and you mix with the alcohol and you stop trying to hold them back. Wanda and Natasha no longer pay so much attention to the game, Wanda whispers something to her girlfriend looking at you, they don't even make the effort to hide it this time. The spy nods and gives Wanda a little kiss and that's when you hear the witch's voice.

"Hey baby, you think really loud" you immediately feel chills and your whole body flush, what could she have heard of all the unholy thoughts you are having about the couple? you wonder if she can always hear what you are thinking and shame consumes you. Wanda answers you in your head, her eyes glow scarlet and Natasha whispers something in her ear, complicit "No, I can't always hear what you're thinking, I think it's the alcohol, but it's almost like you're screaming right now" you swallow hard and hide your blush between your hands with a grunt, a couple of glances stray to you, but no one asks anything noticing the glow in the witch's eyes. "Natasha told me to tell you that you' re cute when you blush, I agree" says Wanda. You can't even think about answering, nervous and drunk. "I wonder if it's the alcohol or if..." but Wanda can't finish her question, because Tony calls your name and asks you: truth or dare?

" Dare" you said a little emboldened by the alcohol.

"Finally it gets interesting, I was getting fed up" said Tony "Wanda, Natasha, y/n sleeps in your room tonight. Go now, it's late and my charity actions shouldn't last as long as this one" complicit glances are again exchanged by the team. Natasha and Wanda are taken by surprise by Tony's request, but having discovered that you like women, there is renewed hope in your best friends, who suddenly seem to catch on to the background of the party. You, for your part, allow yourself to blush again and simply nod at the challenge, nervous about being in a room alone with the couple, even more so now that Wanda seems to know your secret.

Reluctant to let the situation affect you as much as it did, you staggered to your feet with your head down. Despite being a little tipsy, you knew that if your friend had heard your thoughts about her and her girlfriend, it wouldn't be long before they wouldn't want to be in your company again.

Wanda exchanges small smiles with her girlfriend and leaves her place on top of Natasha, who gets up to shake your hand and lead you with them to the room you had visited so many times before in very different circumstances. All around you, you felt everyone's gaze on your back, and when your eyes meet the gaze of your companions, you understand that all this was definitely planned. Peter gestures a sorry in silence. Wanda and Natasha walk dragging you forward, without saying a word, so you seize the moment and with a simple snap, a rain shower falls on the head of each of the guests who looked at you with narrowed eyes and mumbling complaints at your exit.

"This is how you repay me, y/n?" said Tony with more humor than expected. But you almost don't hear him, because the elevator arrives and behind you, the doors lock you in with Wanda and Natasha on the way to their room.

You refused to look up and they don't pressure you even though you can feel their eyes on you. Natasha still held your hand and Wanda's waist with her other arm. Finally, you all reached the couple's room. Natasha opens the door, releases your hand so you can take a seat, and it's Wanda who breaks the silence.

“Y/N/N, look at us" that's when you look up first to scan the room. The rooms in the compound are spacious, all similar in size and shape, but this one feels much more like home. You glanced at some picture frames behind the couple and you are surprised when you notice that there is more than one picture of the three of you together. You begin to wonder if they are going to take them out after this conversation. That's when you looked up and your gaze met that of Wanda and Natasha, who were watching you lovingly from above.

"Listen y/n, I didn't mean to listen to your thoughts, but they were very loud and I couldn't help it even though I tried. We'd like to talk about what I heard, and if you want, then you can go back to your room if that's what you prefer. We don't want to make you uncomfortable .... but I heard your thoughts about us. Is it the alcohol? Or do you actually like us?' pressed Wanda.

You sighed, feeling the tears burning in your eyes, ready to come out if necessary. They already knew part of the truth, and if they didn't know about your feelings from reading your thoughts, they would know it from the staging of your colleagues to try to get you to have this conversation, even if you were certain they didn't feel the same way. So you chose to believe that little drop of trust that was left hanging around from your conversation with bucky, and you jump in.

"It's not because of the alcohol," you said, lowering your eyes, "I've been in love with you for a long time, but I didn't want to say anything about it for fear it would ruin the friendship. I'm so sorry that you found out, I tried to keep it a secret but somehow it seems that everybody knew about it... and now you guys do too. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I ruined our friendship this way" by now you were crying out dramatically. The fear of losing your two best friends, but also the girls you love, present in every tear.

Natasha stepped forward and lifted your gaze, gently taking you by the chin. A smile on her lips, Wanda shares the gesture from behind. Are they making fun of you? Anxiety absorbs you and the crying gets worse. Wanda overtakes your thoughts again.

"It's not that, moya zhizn', it's that you got it all wrong. I had never seen your thoughts before you left me accidentally, we... we didn't even know if you liked women, but we are in love with you, and we didn't want to mention it so as not to make you uncomfortable, not only are you our best friend but we understand that maybe you might not like us..." for a moment, you stopped reacting. Not only do they know your secret, but they share the feeling you tried so hard and so long to hide. Your thoughts suddenly full of hope, bring a smile to the Witches lips.

Natasha kneels in front of you next to the bed gently, your eyes meet yours and then Wanda's, who nods and smiles warmly. Natasha's hands again on your chin as her lips come painfully slowly to yours, as if asking permission in case you want to stop her.

The moment the kiss materializes, the world stops, Natasha wastes no time moving her hands to the side of your face and with confidence and firmness, she quickly takes your breath away. The kiss deepens and stops only when Wanda clears her throat from behind. Natasha laughs softly as she breaks away.

"You're beautiful y/n/n" Nat says pulling away from your lips "Hey Wands, come here baby".

The spy leaves a small kiss on your lips and another on Wanda's before the witch smiles nervously at you, also kneeling in front of you. Wanda's kiss is different from Natasha's, more careful, testing the waters, soft. The witch smiles into the kiss, and doesn't take too long to deepen it either once you both enter into trust.

Suddenly, you feel sober, as if your powers have evaporated the glasses of alcohol from your blood and brought you back to reality in one fell swoop.

The bed behind you sinks a little with Nat's weight, who gently brings his hands to your waist as your kiss with Wanda continues. As your lips part from hers, Wanda pulls her girlfriend closer to kiss her too, and no longer needing to be discreet, you watch the passionate kiss that your lovers share in the privacy of their bedroom.

You move to the side of the bed, your eyes continue to watch the couple and Wanda smiles into the kiss, listening to the obscene thoughts that cross your mind. Natasha is the one who ends the kiss first, approaching your lips again, this time without asking permission.

"Y/N, none of us have tried anything like this before but, would you like to go out with us? We think it could work and we love you. We can go at your pace" Wanda interrupts this comment with a laugh, having been in your head and listening to the thoughts running through your mind at the moment. "And by and by see what it would mean to us to have you be a part of this relationship."

Wanda just nods with an open smile, she already knows what answer you are going to give and the scarlet gleam in her eyes, gives you to understand that Natasha was already being updated on this information.

"I'd really like to try" you reply without letting a second pass, taking both women by the arms and drawing them into yours in an embrace that was too long in coming. "I'm in love with you, I have been for a long time, and you know how much I love you."

The girlfriends, your girlfriends? They smile and kiss your cheeks. No words are needed as they escort you to lie down on their bed, and settle you in between the two of them. Wanda uses her powers to change all three of your party clothes into long t-shirts to sleep in. They hug you protectively and whisper words in your ear as sleep approaches.

"I love you Nat, I love you Y/N/N" Wanda says.

"I love you Wands, I love you Y/N" Says Natasha

"I love you, Wanda and Natasha "you say before allowing yourself to close your eyes and let sleep take you, into the arms of the women you dreamed about for so long.

#wandanat fanfiction #wanda maximoff #wandanat #wanda maximoff x natasha romanoff #wandanat x reader #wanda maximoff x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #wandanat smut #wandanat fluff

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jonsa101 · 3 years

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Episode 3x14: A Reflection of How Max Stepped Into Love After A Season of Suffering

Gif credit @supagirl

Hey guys! I can’t believe the season finale has come and gone! I think my mind is just taking time to comprehend everything that has happened! Sharpwin is officially canon! As I’m typing this out, it feels strange writing a meta on the other side of things. Since season one, I’ve been writing metas about how these two belong together and making predictions about the trajectory of their relationship. Now, to be on the other side of things where I know longer have to do that because these two are finally together is kinda crazy. I feel so elated!

Now y’all, I’m not going to lie to you, I had a totally different meta planned out and that meta is still in my drafts. I will probably release it because it was a general review of the episode but I thought it was more important that I put this meta out first. When I was watching the finale live, I didn’t love it. I just didn’t. I loved that Max and Helen finally got together at the end of the episode but I had a major issue with how it unfolded. The issue my friends was this scene right here:

Baby!!! When I tell you this scene TRIGGERED me, it did! Now mind you, I wasn’t upset with Max’s storyline of searching and struggling to take off his wedding ring. It is human nature for Max to still have an emotional attachment to his ring. He’s not still grieving but essentially that ring is the only thing he has left of Georgia and represents a life he once had. Him taking it off was always going to be a monumental moment for Sharpwin and for himself. The issue that I had was Max casually telling Helen that he freaked out about losing his ring!!! To me, after the voicemail he left her, after Helen flew standby and was in a six hour flight to see him, it was an incredibly CALLOUS thing for Max to say. I know Max wasn’t thinking in this moment. I know his intentions were clearly not to hurt her but words matter and him being careless with his was a complete disregard of Helen’s feelings. She was deeply hurt and upset when he said this and rightfully so! I mean just look at her expression here:

Helen’s entire being read like

“I can’t believe you”

And girl same, because neither could I!! He knew he fucked up and he obviously made up for it in the end but y’all when I was watching it live, everything that came after that elevator scene was was tainted for me. I had a hard time believing that Helen would let what he said slide so easily and in the moment, I couldn’t appreciate the beauty of them finally coming together! 😩 In my personal opinion, there were so many other ways that scene could have played out without Max having to literally tell Helen to her face that he was worried about his wedding ring! I know they were trying to build up to the “big moment” where he finally takes his ring off and runs back to Helen’s apartment but man, that moment did not sit right with me in my spirit! It still doesn’t and I don’t think my opinion will ever change on this.

With that said, I’ve now done several rewatches of the finale where I specifically watched the scenes after that awful moment by the elevator. As I’ve had time to reflect, my perspective has changed. I no longer view the moments after the elevator scene as tainted but as something deeply profound and beautiful. Hell, even as I reflect on that scene by the elevator, I still don’t like it, but in a way I understand it in how it relates to Max’s overall journey when it comes to Helen. To me, Max Goodwin is a man who fell deeply in love with Helen in the midst of the most complex situations and a season of him suffering. It’s been deep rooted, complicated and messy from the start and over the past three years we’ve seen Max navigate through the complexities of his feelings for Helen and the circumstances he’s found himself in on our screens. I think when you look at season three finale and specifically the journey of Max finally making a choice to be with Helen, you have to put into context Max’s history and how it influenced what that looked like. So y’all that is exactly what I want to do in this meta so let’s dive in.

One thing I think we need to acknowledge is that, even though as an audience we have loved seeing Max and Helen’s journey unfold, the road has been so TOUGH for them. As Helen said in 3x13, it’s been a fight! Especially for Max. The suffering he has endured over the past three years has been unfathomable and much of his relationship with Helen and his feelings for her have been developed under these traumatic and tragic circumstances.

At the very beginning of the series, when Max and Helen first meet they clash but it doesn’t last for long. It’s his first day at New Amsterdam and as the new Medical Director, he wants her to stay at the hospital and treat patients instead of doing press tours. Helen on the other hand wants to continue doing press and for the most part ignores his demands for her to return to the hospital. When she finally does return, she does so because she learns that Max has cancer. This bonds them at the onset as Helen is the only person in his life that knows about his diagnosis. As an audience, when we first see them interact, we instantly saw the sparks fly between them. Their chemistry and natural witty banter made us immediately take a look at their relationship and what potential they could have in the future. Though we were shocked by his cancer diagnosis, I think the fun and lightheartedness of Sharpwin’s first interactions really masked how traumatic this must have been for Max. On the first day of his dream job, that he sacrificed his marriage for, he learns that he has cancer while having a baby on the way. Those are the awful circumstances that first bring Max and Helen together.

As Helen becomes Max’s doctor and he swears her to secrecy about his diagnosis, their friendship and bond grows deeper. His passion and drive to help his patients, reignites Sharpe’s love for medicine again and inspires her to put her patients first. They become vulnerable with each other more than anyone else in their lives. He confides in her about his broken marriage and she tells him that she wants a baby. When he almost dies, she becomes his deputy medical director so that he can focus on his care. All of these moments are significant to them because somewhere along the way they develop feelings for each other. They didn’t plan for it and it’s something neither of them are consciously aware of but unknowingly, they both start to fill a place in each other’s lives that was clearly more than a doctor and patient relationship or a friendship. This “place” wasn’t called out until episode 1x16 were the clairvoyant called out their feelings for each other. When episode 1x17 comes around, after a night of revelations and a scramble to get the power back on in the hospital, Helen decides to step back as his doctor. If she wasn’t aware of her feelings before, in this moment, she’s fully aware of them now. This is an effort to safeguard her heart and set boundaries because the lines of who they are to each other were already so blurred. When she “triages” their relationship Max’s reacts badly and honestly they’re both devastated and are on the verge of tears:

As viewers, we loved this moment but when you peel back the layers of what’s actually going on in this scene, it’s gut-wrenching. The subtext is so clear here yet their situation is so complex and layered. We know for a fact that Max wasn’t trying to lose her in ANY CAPACITY. We also know that in the way he TRULY wanted her he couldn’t have her and Helen knew that too. Not when he was married, had a baby on the way, and fighting cancer at the same time. Y’all that’s hard and profoundly painful when you think about it and it makes this scene all the more tragic.

When Helen steps back as his doctor, at first Max seems to be handling it well but as his cancer starts to get worse, he completely breaks. Like I said earlier, over the course of his cancer treatment, Helen filled a place in Max’s life that was so much more than just his doctor or his friend. So when he’s dying and no longer has the person he feels deeply for play an active role in his treatment, he lashes out. He’s dealing with a range of emotions he can’t handle or properly process. Things only get worse from there and at the end of season one Georgia and Luna’s life are on the line and Bloom and Helen scramble to save them. When it seems like everyone was able to come out of that traumatic event unscathed, they get into a devastating ambulance crash that changes everything.

Season 2 brings another level of pain and suffering for Max when he loses his wife after the crash and is thrust into single fatherhood. Not only is he grieving but he’s also dealing with guilt of falling in love with Helen while he was married. The complexities of his feelings is something he struggles with throughout this season and it affects his relationship with Helen. At some points he pushes her away and at others he desperately needs her. Once again, Helen and Max’s relationship is caught up in the most complex of circumstances that is riddled with agony and trauma.

By time we head into season 3, Max doesn’t even have time to breathe or think about his relationship with Helen because they’re both thrust to the frontlines of the pandemic.

I bring all of this up again to emphasize that there has never been a time where Max and Helen’s relationship hasn’t been wrapped up in trauma or some sort of suffering. It has always been one thing or another with them. It’s been A LOT and Max has tried to navigate being in love with Helen through his suffering and under these crazy ass circumstances. So after rewatching the finale, the questions that run through my mind are:

How do you step into love when all you’ve known for the past three years has been suffering?

How do you love openly and freely when for so long you’ve emotionally suppressed your feelings for someone because it was “wrong?”

How do you let go, heal, and move on with your life?

To me, answering these questions is what the season finale for Max was all about. When you’ve suffered so much and endured so much it’s not easy to step into a new chapter in your life that’s hopeful and filled with love and possibilities. For Max, I don’t think in his wildest dreams that he ever imagined that he and Helen would be in a place where they could actually be together. Considering everything they’ve gone through, quite frankly it’s a fucking miracle! So when he actually makes it to the other side and not only SURVIVES but has a chance for happiness, I don’t think he knows what he’s doing. Pursuing/having feelings for Helen from a place that isn’t wrapped up in trauma and tragedy, where there are seemingly no obstacles in his way, is totally and completely new territory for Max. I think he’s clueless in how to do that in the right way and as he navigates through that, naturally there are hiccups.

That’s evident with what he said by the elevator and also in this moment here:

Max doesn’t have a clue but he wants to make sure that he doesn’t fuck it up because he DESPERATELY wants this! I also think there’s something to be said about how we as human beings can self-sabotage ourselves when we finally have an opportunity to get what we want. Fear, guilt, worthiness usually comes into play with that and I think for Max there was definitely a fear with moving on with his life, guilt of surviving it all and having a chance to be with the woman he’s loved for so long, and a question of if he’s worthy of actually having happiness.

Their walk in my mind perfectly embodies him self sabotaging while also trying to navigate his feelings of desperately wanting to be with her. At the beginning of their walk, you see that at one point he clearly wants to hold Helen’s hand but he doesn’t (I would use a gif here y’all but I literally only have room for 10 😩). I’m focusing my attention on Max here because essentially this whole moment between them is a part of Max’s “mini story” in the episode. The ball has always been in his court and truly what we are witnessing is his journey to step into love because Helen is ready and has been waiting on him.

The most compelling moment in their walk scene for me was this one:

I find it strange for Max to walk so far ahead when he was the one who asked her if he could walk with her. My first thought while watching it live was “what is he doing” and I think Helen’s expression reads the same way. After analyzing this for a bit, I genuinely think that’s the point of this scene. Like I said earlier, Max doesn’t know what he’s doing. To be with Helen like this is, where its romantic, peaceful and drama free is probably blowing his mind and he doesn't know how to navigate this. He doesn’t know how to receive this second chance at happiness.

The internal war of Max stepping into love or allowing fear, guilt, and unworthiness to hold him back becomes all the more evident when they get to Helen’s door:

He knows he wants to come in. Helen know he wants to come in too. This man literally says goodnight twice and when Helen responds with “you said that,” it perfects this scene. She wants him to come in as well but she’s not going to ask him to. In this moment, she sees his internal struggle and she knows that he has to make the choice himself on whether or not he wants to move on with his life with her.

When he walks away, for a moment that was Max choosing to hold onto the pain and trauma of his past. That was him choosing to hold onto the guilt that was keeping him from healing and moving on. With the suffering he’s been through, it makes sense. In many ways he’s been conditioned to fight, to suffer and to endure. It’s what he’s used to. But praise the lord, he thinks of the moments he just shared with Helen.

The joy he has with just being in her presence.

The opportunity he has to freely be with her and have a life with her after loving her for so long.

He is not condemned to a life of suffering. It was only for a season. He’s in love with Helen and wants to be with her. Like hell is he going to let this opportunity at a second chance of love and happiness slip away from him. So guys, he slips off that ring, runs back to Helen’s apartment and makes a choice to step into love. Step into this new, uncharted, chapter of his life with Helen Sharpe.

Anyway guys! I hope y’all enjoyed this! I might be releasing one more meta but we will see how it goes.

As always feel free to reach out to me on Tumblr and on Twitter @oyindaodewale. Love you guys!

#new amsterdam #Sharpwin #Max Goodwin #Helen Sharpe #Max x Helen #sharpwin meta #new amsterdam meta

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sychjelly · 3 years

Text

-‘๑’- excerpt 01

彡 From ‟ born from stone, she was a flower in the night ”.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

He can still clearly recall her features and accurately retell them, remembering even to the slightest details like the scar she had on her thigh, obtained through a nasty scuffle with the other gods. She donned a beautiful white gown with golden cranes embroidered in the silk, golden flowers lining the edges and sleeves. On her head would lie a stunning glaze lily, its colors always so vivid and alive despite being removed from its soil.

Her silky white hair was kept up by a delicate golden pin that bore the design of a majestic dragon, accompanied by the many gold accessories that lay in her hair like petals from a cherry tree. Everytime she opened her eyes would be comparable to seeing the ocean, so carefree and livid, full of new things to explore and see. But her eyes had always carried sadness within them, and back then, he had been too young to understand.

Or perhaps he was too naïve instead.

She had the ability to glance into the future, and while she didn't have the strength and willpower of Morax, she would do everything she can to prevent a tragic end, even as to go as far as to beg another god for help. Yet she couldn't prevent the most tragic end of all.

Her own demise.

He can still remember it. Remember everything that happened. Remember the day he had lost her to the corruption.

It wasn't a sudden thing - and he wished that it had been instead, hoped that it would have been short termed. The corruption turned those infected into monsters, beings with no mind nor no emotion. They harbored the cruelest, most ruthless creatures there ever existed, infecting their once pure minds like a plague. It wasn't contagious, as if the virus had a mind of its own, always going for something far stronger than its current host.

It was a parasite.

A parasite that could infect the Gods, but it had been their job to seal away those bad spirits that had been exposed to it. Or even seal the parasite entirely, of which Morax had done and has continued till this day.

He still remembers the day when she had come to him, a gentle smile on her face as they embraced. As they pulled away, he could see the bittersweetness in her clear blue eyes with a strange sense of forewarning. But she didn't warn him of anything, rather, she had told him to promise her something.

"If I ever do get corrupted, please have mercy on my soul and kill me."

He had been shocked to hear that. Completely shocked to the bone.

"I will protect you. I won't let you get infected." He had protested, but all she did was shake her head. Those eyes bore the pain of experience - but of what, he didn't know.

"Please, Morax. It would do us no good if I live as a corrupt being." She continued to plead, her voice shaky.

Not wanting to continue on such an unbearable topic any further, all he could do was nod and promise her her wish. Unknowingly, he had promised her a promise that he'd regret for the rest of his life, for he only thought that the corruption would never reach her soul.

He was wrong to think she would be spared from such a plague.

Decades passed smoothly with no obstacle, until that fateful day came knocking at his door.

It was the middle of the night, where the moon was at its highest, that he heard a loud cry for help in the valleys of Liyue. He had none to do, and decided to investigate. The plea of a commoner that had wandered into the Adepti's territory, he had thought naïvely, but he hadn't expected it to be the plea of a human for a god to save another.

There she lay, shadowed in darkness, cloaked in a black that wasn't her own. It stained her clothes, spread across her body like a plague, corrupting her body and soul with every passing second, the darkness consuming her whole. Only then he truly felt fear - the fear of loss.

How she had been infected, he did not know. But he knew something. He had to help.

He had rushed to her aid, his arms embracing her body as she writhed in his grasp, the darkness gnawing at her skin and bones. Yet her eyes, her eyes still kept the same crystal blue that had always met his with such fondness. Though he knows, he knows that same pureness wouldn't last.

"You promised me something, Morax." She had said to him in his arms, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Despite that, her gaze was solid and strong, her eyes piercing through his own with such intensity. He can recall, he knows what she's referring to, but he cannot bear to think of it.

"Guizhong… please, I cannot-" He had begun, but quickly fell short of his words when he couldn't find anything to say. Nothing but worry clouded his eyes, and he found himself backed into a corner for the very first time. He'd do something - anything - but he well knew that once the corruption had its firm hold on someone, it would not let go.

If she had told him before, showed him her corrupted wounds…

Tears stung his eyes like needles.

"It would be better. For all of us." Her hand rose to caress his cheek, a gentle smile spreading across her features. Her smile was a smile like none other, full of warmth and love for him. It was genuine, real… real. But it was short-lived for she succumbed to a fit of messy coughs right after, dark red mixed with hideous shades of purple splattering onto the ground below them.

He couldn't move. Couldn't think.

"I can't let you go… not like this." Was all he could muster, teeth gritting in regret as he felt her body grow colder. He had desperately cast a sealing spell in hopes of stopping the parasite or perhaps even seal it entirely, but the magic in his palm faded whenever he tried.

She was too far infected to cure, but he didn't let himself come to that conclusion.

"There has to be some way. There has to be." His voice cracked with heartbreak as he continued to try everything he could think of, going so far as to cast the most complicated spells at the risk of his own strength. Everything failed, and all Guizhong could do was look on silently as his efforts took no root.

"It won't be long, Morax." Her voice became raspy, rough from the coughs that erupted from her chest. He could hear her lungs wheeze in effort everytime she spoke, and he could feel his heart shatter all the more. The corruption had begun making its way over to her face, infecting her pale cheeks with a dark shade of devilish purple.

"Guizhong, please, stay with me." His own voice had turned into a meek one, like a child going to their parents after a horrible nightmare. He lay his hand on her chest and rested his head on hers, his eyes shut tight with heartache. Her hand gently caressed over his, their slim fingers intertwining.

"When I turn, I will no longer be Guizhong." She had whispered in such a quiet voice, her once blue eyes heavy with tiredness. The pain fizzled in her body like electricity, and she found herself losing her feelings in her limbs. All she could do was lift her free hand slowly, up to caress Morax's scarred cheek.

"I know that." He'd murmured, biting back his tears, hand squeezing hers with such desperation. He couldn't cry now. He didn't want her last image of him to be one of tears.

"Then you of all people, should know what must be done."

He could feel his nose turn sour. And he felt something cold roll down his cheeks. He knows what it is, feels what it is, but he doesn't hold back - the emotional pain was like a wave, crashing onto him with such force and sheer impact.

"But you're still you. Please, Guizhong. Stay with me." He pleads, his heart cracking with heartache. Every part of him was pitiful, and he was supposed to be a god of stone. Yet he was shattering, breaking into a million pieces before a Goddess that had failed her own people.

"Time is not on our side, Morax." She'd urged him once more, her own hand squeezing his. She smiled sadly, leaning closer into his chest. Tears soaked into his robe, and he realised that it wasn't just his own. "Always remember that I will be by your side, no matter what happens… even after my mortal vessel expires."

She gave him the brightest smile as she spoke, and he burned that smile into his brain for he knew it would be her last.

As she raised her head once more, her eyes flickered open with an aura of hostility, an unreadable look on her face. Her eyes were no longer the crystal blues they once were - now they harbored nothing but the effects of the corruption. They were purple, black slitted, and there was nothing but hatred and anger that flared within like a wildfire.

It was then Morax knew for good that she was gone.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ this post is just to kick start things. this is but a small excerpt of the 4k words i wrote while sleep deprived :D

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ anyway, hope you enjoyed, if you’d want to read the entire thing, link is here ✦ !

#genshin impact #genshin #genshin writing #fanfic #genshin fanfic #zhongli #guizhong #zhongli x guizhong #guili #reminisence #morax #angst #genshin angst

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mlmshipbracket · 2 months

Text

ROUND 2: POLL #17

ROUND 2 POLLS [HERE]

PROPAGANDA BELOW

Qrow Branwen/Clover Ebi:

Phaya/Tharn:

They're destined lovers!!!! They're meant to be together!!! Phaya has dreams about them and Tharn has visions about Phaya. Their relationship is all kinds of messy and complicated that spans across their lifetimes. Phaya was a garuda and Tharn was a naga and now they're both detectives and will always find each other.

"look here are some more cute videos of them

[SPOILERS up to ep 7]

youtube

and another one (SPOILERS up to ep 5)

youtube

ANYWAYS they're literally destined soulmates but like Romeo and Juliet too at the same time because they're a Garuda and a Naga who are like classic enemies in mythology and even though they've been reincarnated as normal humans, (tho Phaya has strange dreams and Tharn has prophetic visions so they're not that normal lol) they're still like cosmically being torn apart because of their past karma. And like in one of the first episodes Phaya is literally described as someone who will bring Tharn into more danger BUT is also the only person who can free him from this repeated cycle of bad karma that haunts him.

Like imagine you and your lover are soulmates and are these mythical creatures who have a long standing enmity between them so it's very tragic BUT you eventually are reincarnated as normal humans and are still destined for each other so everything should be fine except your both still haunted by your past lives and everyone you love dies because of you and you have visions and then you meet this guy and suddenly you keep getting visions about him dying and he's been seeing you in his dreams his whole life and the Abbott at the temple you grew up in says that you two are tied together and that he is the only person who can save you from your past karma but to do that he's going to put you in more danger and you're still convinced that everyone you love dies because of you and also there's an evil snake deity from your past life who is doing everything in his power to keep you two part. They're insane.

anyways watch this little clip of Phaya's dream from episode 5 to get a feel

youtube

and also this confession scene (and well.... there's some scenes after that too ;) ) from episode 7

youtube

oh! and here's a couple more gif sets of them!

#qrow branwen #clover ebi #qrow branwen/clover ebi #fair game #rwby #phaya #tharn #phaya/tharn #phayatharn #the sign the series #tumblr poll #tumblr bracket #mlm ship #mlm ship poll #mlm ship bracket #mlm ship bracket tournament #mlm ship bracket 2024 #mlm ship bracket tournament 2024 #fourthr2

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mooniehsh · 3 years

Text

Just like he was before

Lucifer meeting his daughter for the first time

Obey Me! Lucifer

(OC’s daughter just to be clear)

Warnings: A little bit of angst, just a tiny portion of it... yeah...

(I’m really sorry if the characters doesn’t seem like themselves. It’s the first time i tried to write something with them, and I’m not that sure that i make everyone accurate)

I'm 99.9999% sure that i might write about this again. It’s such a fun concept, and i apologize about my grammar. English is not my first language.

Enjoy!

- Made by: Ace (MT)

Gif not mine

Lucifer was livid, but that was not the exact word to describe how he was feeling at this moment even though it was close to it. He was anxious, waiting, and walking towards Diavolo’s chambers with stress and curiosity running through his veins and messy heart. Anticipating on firsthand that the prince was calling only to inform him about a problem with his brothers, or maybe a usual meeting about work, and that was the main topic he had on his mind when he called him... but no, luck doesn’t exist for him. So when Diavolo spoke about his lover as the central problem in this call he was speechless.

Not to say that he was terrified in a way...

But he decided to calm down, thinking of a reasonable cause of why the young prince had called him specifically about her. And when he reached some possible motives, he decided to shut up and not bring expectations to the matter.

Let it be a surprise", he thought immediately when fateful scenarios crossed his mind, she is not in danger I know it. Did he believe in his own words? This time: no, he did not. But as he said before, let fate decided for him and not bring speculations to an uncertain future.

And the great moment had to come. He walked towards the entrance, heart on the mouth, begging himself to behave and not lose his mind in the process.

“She is a strong woman. whatever is the matter I’m sure is not that complicated”

But only if he knew exactly what was behind the doors he definitely would be beyond terrified, maybe even confused

And what a lovely surprise, that’s exactly how Diavolo view everything in the room: confusion and pure excitement of the creature sitting on the edge of his sofa, waiting for a word to be spoken.

But it was the other way around, he wanted to hear her voice, know more of the girl who reminds him of an old friend… how strange, he thought her parents liked to talk.

- My lord, I think we should call Lucifer a second time

- There is no need. He will be here soon, fear not my friend-The butler nodded with his head, looking over the woman in silence one more time. And he smiled, laughing inside for the similar looks she shared with the new guest coming to the palace in no time. – So, you said your mother wasn’t coming to meet us. Is she sick? -Diavolo asked for the third time, making the young girl exhale for the curious question. She did not want to talk, but she did not have to answer with words, so a simple shake of her head was enough.

But was Diavolo satisfied with it? Of course not. So, with that in mind, he asked again -Does she knows that you’re here? -She let escape a simple laugh from her lips, opening her mouth, making the prince wait anxiously for her voice to be heard once again.

- She’s occupied with mortal duties -She responds, gaining a sly grin from Barbatos, who was curious to know if the girl was frightened of Diavolo thanks to the fact that she had not made eye contact with the man in this whole time, except when they introduced themselves of course. But deep inside, he believed that it was more out of respect. Lucifer sometimes does that, so it would make so much sense if it were the actual reason…

How thrilling the day was going to be…

- She is a doctor, am I right? It is a good profession, more with these difficult times, don’t you agree? – She nodded, playing with her phone, cursing under her breath at the moment she noticed that it was completely dead, no battery that would help distract her from the intense gaze of the demons over her body

Mother was right about this; it was going to be a little uncomfortable…

- Mortal phones do not work down here, I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. -She threw an apologetic smile at him, making eye contact for the first time in that long-languishing moment. And with that, Diavolo chuckle filled the room, spreading the humor towards his butler and creating a weird tension on her shoulders

She did not understand how her dear mother passed one whole year with these kinds of things… she was a warrior with no doubt

- Has anyone ever told you how much you look like your father? – He had no idea… hearing the same thing from close people with knowledge of the realms was overwhelming and frustrating. But it was something she learned to normalize, until now, of course. She was there to discover for herself the truth in those words, to see if they were lying or not.

Her father was a great enigma that never had a beautiful or tragic response, and if no one dared to respond it then she was willing to sacrifice her life to search for the long-waited question

And the same thing goes for Lucifer, whose palms were sweating from the nervous heat he was feeling inside, but that didn’t stop him from knocking on the door three times. He waited, standing in front of the golden gate, quieting his mind with delayed work, supposing this was something insignificant and momentary

But the surprise was more than alarming to him than the call that the prince dared to make minutes ago. His eyes grew bigger in honest astonishment, locking his lungs with the thin air at the simple sight of a woman, whose steps were getting closer to him in the same moment when Diavolo said something about taking her to the house of lamentation.

Lucifer was not listening to one word that fell from the mouth of his dear friend. For the first time in millennials, he never expected to find someone so intriguing yet so dangerous to meet. And his mind finally exploded when Barbatos said something about a beautiful family reunion, pointing out how much of siblings they could be if the daughter- father thing never existed between them.

- You call me for this…? - His tone lacks the true feelings he had inside, making him sound so cold and sour that the girl couldn’t help but mock him with a confused grin. So, he was her father?

The great lucifer was nothing other than a tired and young man whose first impression was to criticize the meeting they were having? No wonder why uncle Sol used to talk so bad about him…

-It was a surprise, I’m sorry if made you panic but I believed it was something very important… Lucifer, meet Miss Van Doren, your lovely daughter- And the world stopped only for him to digest that tiny information.

It was her; it looked like her, but somewhat different from what he expected…

His beloved told him about the pregnancy long ago, something he agreed to have but for details like work and difference between worlds he never got the chance to see the beautiful newborn that he created with the love of his life. He only saw through photos her baby face, how pretty she was with so little age that made him question if it was his child.

But when his work started piling up, Lucifer had little time to check his telephone, decreasing the chats he used to have with his lover, and with it, the photos of her daughter…

Sometimes he even forgot that he had a phone in the first place

And so, he never got to know what his beloved daughter looked like today. Until now…

-Luci? Are you listening to me?

-Yes! Yes, I am… -He was not, Diavolo knew that immediately. Anyways, he repeated the same instruction twice, making sure the man in front of him was paying close attention. And this time, Lucifer heard everything - You want me to take her to the house of lamentation? - Diavolo nodded with a smile, barely touching the back of the girl, pushing her closer to her father and the man was more than astounded right now.

Who would think that a demon like him gave life to someone that radiates the aura of an angel? She was a Nephilim, of course, but he was so sure that she could be easily mistaken by an actual angel with just one glance at her

She was the vivid image of him, and it was scary. How her eyes were so dark but yet full of light, looking at his reflection in them, knowing that she was doing the same in those ruby orbs of him. And her hair, falling almost over her shoulders with gracious black curls, just like the ink in the books he used to read to her mother. The length not too long or too short, resembling a little like her mama at least.

It was like looking at the mirror, looking at his figure when he was part of the celestial realm. Is this possible? He was a demon now, but here she is, radiating such a pure aura and soul…

-The others might want to meet their niece, so it’s a good opportunity to know each other. But save some space for tonight, I need to know more about her… you never told me about your affair with Jules- Because he never craved to mix personal stuff with work, but it looks like he needs to do it now thanks to this little secret. -Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful day. -And with anything else to add, they started walking towards the exit, being the palace a place so quiet that even their breaths sounded like huge lightning bolts.

Lucifer initiated the conversation, not even daring to see the girl at his side, and it looked like she didn’t want to do the same.

-Your mother… why did you come alone? How did you enter?

- My uncle helped me… -Her velvet voice took him by surprise, but her words charged against him so fast that he stopped, analyzing the phrase with a confused look in his factions.

- Uncle? - He raised a brow, while his daughter stopped her steps a few meters away from him but with a low voice she assured him that this help didn’t come from his brothers.

- Solomon, you know him, right? -Of course, the shady magician always comes to help this tiny family. First, it was Jules when she messed up something with chemicals, and now, his child.

- You have no idea… -Should she ask? In her mind, that attitude was kind of similar to the man mentioned before. Do these two men hold a grudge against each other? She never questions Solomon about these types of things, more because he never answered… -And your mother? Did she agree to you coming here? All by yourself? -She inhales thin air, looking at his figure getting closer and closer. In every book or website, they described this man as intimidating, but he wasn’t. Hell, she even thinks her mother can do the same thing and she would be terrified knowing it was a sign of frustration…

- … I sneak out, so no, she doesn’t know that I’m here. - And a side of him appeared at the terror her mother must go through if she found out. That was somewhat inconsiderate on her part, to leave without telling her where she was heading

- Do you have any idea of how frightened your mother must be? You cannot come to the Devildom like this, it is very irresponsible. You could have been attacked by another demon or worst, your aura would easily attract them, and nobody would know you were here. -She wasn’t awaiting him to scold her in their first meeting, but due to the circumstances sooner or later it would be expected to happen.

So she waited until he had finished. And when his lips sealed in a line, looking with the ruby eyes the dark ones she smiled somewhat uncomfortable

- Mom is working right now, in urgencies… she never goes home until 7 pm, so I got my chance- It wasn’t enough reason, but for now, he let it slip, knowing that Diavolo and Barbatos were lurking in the shadows only to hear everything they discussed. They needed privacy, so he guides the girl until the breeze of Devildom hit them.

Lucifer put one of his hands on her back, a little hesitant, he doesn’t know if she would like it or not, he is cautious as always. Although seeing how she didn’t mind, he kept it there, still guiding her through the desolated streets of Devildom

- Even if your mother is busy, you shouldn’t do things like this. It is dangerous, any demon could have their way with you if you are not careful… - She lightly snorted, interrupting his speech, making him feel annoyed by her action

- Father, I’m not dumb. I did not ask anyone who passed in front of me to help me. Sol would never put me at risk and besides, I appeared with Lord Diavolo… I know what I’m doing here, so do you. -And before he even dared to say something more, she continued, hugging herself because of the weather. It was cold, and her little jacket wasn’t enough to cover her body. She wishes she had listened to Solomon before she agreed to just go in without a word. - And you can lecture me with mom at your heart’s content, but I was tired of waiting for this day to come… -Lucifer squinted his eyes just a little, not sure she was trying to say. Her facial expressions were completely the opposite of her words, making her voice appear like she was struggling with something but the moves she made didn’t say the same. She seemed calm, oddly calm

- How so…? - But he was the same, curiosity in the voice of the demon but serenity in his posture. She had to admit, they were similar in some things… - You couldn’t wait to come and risk your life without telling anybody?

- Mother said we were coming in summer, that I would meet the great Lucifer and finally get the answers I deserved. Guess what? It’s already Autumn. She made that promised more than once, and every time I was ready to go and meet you, she got a call from the hospital. How convenient… -She whispered something, an insult maybe, he couldn’t listen properly, and her body failed to hide the frustration she had inside. - I couldn’t bear to stay and keep this waiting on and on…

-You don’t have much patience, do you?

- I do have patience, but everything has its limits - Her footsteps were pretty slow until she stood in the middle of the sidewalk, with expectations low of what he could tell her. This demon saw in her the same posture he had when the world burned down under his feet, right at the moment, he rebelled against his father for something he thought was wrong to do. The difference? She didn’t radiate rebellion or wrath, just interest, curiosity, maybe a little of exasperation.

What a surprise…

-I waited almost 17 years just to see you, so don’t give me a lecture for wanting to meet my own father. - Lucifer grinned, taking his coat and putting it on her shoulders, blocking his gaze with hers. The world talked, both of them discussing something incomprehensible like past and future, so odd to everybody else, but for them?

It was just like looking at the mirror, one that never ages, the reflection that would never let the memories escape. And the similarities with the celestial Lucifer didn’t stop coming to his exhausted mind. She wasn’t corrupted, she didn’t have desires that could identify her as hostile or something related to that keyword. She was half-human, with a soul that any demon would love to devour, with ordinary wishes like any other person in her world… she was just like he was before

- To be this our first encounter, you don’t look like someone afraid to defy me. - Just like her mama taught her, this man is not easy to talk to. She would play his cards, even if she doesn’t know what she is doing, even if she is not conscious of it. - It reminds me of someone…

- Mom? - The sweet and velvet voice appeared, and he took her hands, walking towards home, glazing at her from time to time. - or it is you father? - that word was still foreign to her tongue, something she had never used even if somebody demands her to pronounce it. But here she is, trying to accustom her mind to do it one more time. Deep inside she liked the idea to finally call someone like that. And luck was on her side…

- Both, more your mother than anyone else to be precise. She was more curious than Solomon if I remember right… -And she asked again inside of her head if the man fought with her uncle. However, she should save that question for another time - She was always intrigued even by the little things that life throw at her. I don’t know how she survived so many things. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you have the same strength Louise -and her heart stopped beating, making her feel the cold of Devildom get through her clothes. Lucifer took her features for a single moment, wondering what happened to make her look so startled.

- you know my name…

- You thought I didn’t? -She nodded, so determined that it surprises him. Did Jules never tell her about him? - I gave you the name, right when you were born… she never talked about me?

- Not much… but mom always loved to do it, the problem is that she is very busy with work and I don’t like to interrupt her with my curiosity… sometimes - He sighed, noticing the way her eyes inspected the trees, how her hair becomes a mess, making it hard to distinguish her locks from the coat. Meanwhile, the girl called Louise was with an infinity of questions haunting her mind.

Was he the one who gave her that name? It wasn’t a joke? Oh, god, she did not know whether to thank or question Lucifer even more...

- So you know very little

- I wouldn’t put it that way… it’s more like I know who you are, what you do but I don’t know why you leave my mother, why did you leave me? - The big question comes to his ears, making him get away from her only to open the gate of the House of Lamentation. And the name was exactly what he felt: he lamented not being there for her mother or Louise. She was a woman now, not entirely but she was older enough to understand trivial matters of the realms. - She told me you were a workaholic, but I don’t think that’s a good excuse to not come and see us… right? -The silence weren’t deadly, but her patience surely took that attribute until the lips of her creator parted to explain himself.

- Your time is very different from mine. The clock goes slower than yours, and I’m… -His pause was something he didn’t want to express. And his pride was a rare feeling he hated right now, where deep down he tried to fight it, but it was useless -I’m the same man your mother tried to tell you about… There’s a lot of things that requires my attention, and I’m just one solitary demon. -There was something behind it, she could feel it, she didn’t buy it.

- That’s your excuse? - Lucifer groans reach her ears, making her back up immediately, not trusting his movements one bit - Mother suffer every time I see her calling you or texting you, we deserve something more than that cheap apology… -She was walking in dangerous territory, and still feels right to her to fight the devil himself. Man or demon who wanted so badly to let her know with the exact words how true the past was for him, how things went down hill so easily.

- I love your mother, I really do. So sorry to disappoint your expectation in my answer, but I never lie when it comes to her, you should understand that. Some things escape my possibilities… - Louise hugged the coat, even more, drifting her gaze away from him. And Lucifer sighed, making sure no one was around, not even his brothers spying through the windows.

With another apology, he tried the last thing he would ever do in front of others, being the avatar of pride and a man who craved for a gentle touch but always deny the act when is in front of him. He hugged her, causing the girl to gasp when she felt the embrace surround her. So sweet but bitter, like cold natural lemonade made at home. She finally felt the love of a father, making the wishes she kept inside her mind for so long a dream come true, achieving something both mirrors craved so much.

- Life is cruel, that’s how it works in our lives ,dearest one… - Louise had a strong grip on him, not wanting to let go of this moment, clinging to his father fearing this would be the last time even though is the first. And Lucifer never wanted to protect someone of corruption so much as he does right now, being her daughter so precious that he desired to see her live peacefully, not worrying about demons and wars between species… but he knew that would be impossible. Still, he would protect her and her mother just the same way he wanted to protect Lilith, and he would not make the same mistake twice

- I never wanted this meeting to be so depressing -Lucifer offered her a wide smile, being so close to open the front door, to show her this other life she never got the chance to meet

- Let’s call it a heartbreaking reunion, not depressing -She nodded, agreeing with his words, returning the smile but in a smaller way. And with everything settle, he greeted her inside of the House of Lamentation with hidden enthusiasm, making some of his brothers appear and see the arrival of the oldest.

They were more in shock than Lucifer when they saw her, instantly loading the girl with questions or simply trying to guess what she was.

Surely her soul was something from an old world. Nephilims were resurfacing, it was expected to the others feel this little and simple curiosity, but being so close to the girl, inspecting her to head to toes were a little… extreme

But still, she let them do what they wanted to do with this curiosity. She let them say whatever they wanted to say. It was fun for her to listen to stupid theories, to look at them right in the eye and see them struggle while trying to decipher who she was and why she was there

It was fun until someone broke the tension over the brothers, being Lucifer the judge of this behavior towards his daughter. She didn’t mind if we put aside the number of times some of them dared to get too touchy with her. She even smiled when one of the brothers said something towards Lucifer about her mother

-Angel or not, you shouldn’t be so concerned about this girl. She is not Jules, we know how to behave -Asmodeus smiled with his words falling in the air as he speaks. Louise’s laugh reached the ears of the brothers, making the action contagious to her father, being the two of them a rare pair.

-Of course, but being his daughter might complicate some things- Levi choked with his saliva, Beel gasped, Mammon screamed some completely incomprehensible things, and the others only remained in silence. Her eyes laid upon the blonde demon who wanted so badly to say something, being interrupted by others every time he had the chance to express his mind- And no, I’m not an angel

-I knew Jules had a child, but I thought it was with Solomon… -Louise was the one now who choked, looking at Asmo and Lucifer a few times, noticing that the raven-haired demon looked a little concerned about this new information

-...I don’t have brothers. Noah is adopted, and my mother never had another lover -Asmo mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ , and Satan finally spoke with such an intensity in his eyes. She waved at him, receiving a tiny smile from his part. And every pair of eyes laid on him

-She is gonna get mad, you know that Louise? -Of course, he was going to say the same thing Lucifer did. She knew what she was doing, she knew the risks, she was not a stupid mortal who acted on impulsive decisions all the time.

-You know her?! Since when?! -Lucifer’s curiosity grew bigger, knowing exactly what was going on in his house, taking a few steps closer to the avatar of wrath. Please, Louise begged, do not start a conflict

-He had been visiting Jules, am I right? - The older spoke, and Satan wanted to laugh, but he remained in silence, with his gaze on the girl who expresses between her eyes and hands, that he must leave the wave of a fight at this moment.

-I’m not like my other brothers who forgot to go and pay a visit to our favorite doctor. Even if she was busy… -The others started with the questions one more time, shushing immediately by Satan or Lucifer. Louise only understood that some of them were with little time to see her, and others like Beel and Asmo knew about this girl. Funny, she doesn’t remember when did they go...

Maybe she was very little at that moment, she would ask her mother later if she survives…

-… So, just to be clear: you are telling me that this girl named Louise is your daughter, and Solomon got a son which he adopted, and now she came to see you because she wanted to meet you, and Satan knew all this time and never say anything to Lucifer for respect to what Jules decided to do with her love life. And we never got to know this information until now- When Levi put the words from his perspective it seemed like a total disaster, her mind would be if Louise were him.

-It is partially your fault, for not wanting to go and see Jules. It is cruel of your part Levi -The demon made a pout when Satan spoke about him, while Mammon looked at the girl with wide eyes, realizing that it was obvious the family she was part of.

-Hell, you are really Lucifer’s daughter. You don’t even look like your mother at all… why you never said anything?! -Lucifer groaned, crossing his arms over his chest, annoyed by all this questioning and discussion. He thinks it would be worst with Jules, knowing that if both of them arrived like a big surprise the brothers would be screaming like maniacs about this matter…

They were yelling, that’s correct, but in a more calming way… sort of.

-At least she got her beauty - Louise’s cheeks tainted a faint red over them, looking adorable to Asmodeus, the demon who spoke seconds ago. - Yes! She has her beauty! Oh, you look like an angel -And like an instinct, she hides behind her father, who grabbed her hand and took her upstairs while the other demons tried to stop him

-We are not done here Lucifer! Why Jules never said something about her? It’s her daughter!

-Mammon, that’s enough! All of you should at least give her space and not asphyxiate the poor girl! -The oldest of the brothers yelled with no effort, reflecting his molested attitude and tired mind in this discussion - You want answers? Ask Satan, I’m trying to find them as well -And with nothing else to add, he kept walking with Louise right behind him

-Why not ask Jules? She will arrive in this home in less than an hour, so it’s a good opportunity to explain all this mess. Right, Luci? -His grin grew bigger, and the girl shivers with the simple idea of the disastrous war her mother would do when she sees her.

-How are you so sure? -A low voice that took everybody by surprise, asking for the truth in the words of Satan. The man stood there for a few seconds, getting closer and closer to Louise, putting his hands right on her shoulders, gaining a warning from Lucifer. He didn’t care, he had more connection with this girl than he, so why bother?

-Louise, your plan failed in just one simple error. You didn’t tell Noah about your escape right?- She had everything under control huh? Yeah, that was lie… a big one - ‘Cause I don’t know you, but he is always with you when your mother leaves you alone at home. Sometimes he even invites you to see what he had created with Solomon… -And she always calls him if she doesn’t respond to her messages. She totally forgot about him...

-She called him, fuck, she did… - A mortal who sounded and looked like an angel cursed with the simple idea of forgetting a tiny detail. Satan laughed, biting his lips while his brothers looked around kind of confused, except for Lucifer who desired to shut everything off only to have time alone with his daughter. It was annoying as always, his inexistent bad luck trying to steal precious time with his new family

- … But… you know what? I think it was a good idea that I forgot about Noah… -And Satan’s eyes went wide with her words -She owns me an explanation after all, and in this place, no work would not let her get away without telling me the truth…. So let her come -She had questions just like these brothers, and she finally would get those precious answers she deserved.

But she wouldn't create a war for it, on the contrary, she just wanted peace and to live with both of her parents present in her life. It was the correct thing to do…

And Lucifer could only think how oddly similar it was, how her determination put her in such a high place where there’s no visible fright for defying her creator. Just like he was before the falling…

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quazartranslates · 3 years

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Welcome to the Nightmare Game - CH 57

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

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Chapter 57: Witchcraft Sacrifice (XXVI)

[One of us went and came back.]

The last bloody word that appeared on the wall stunned Qi Leren.

What had gone and come back? Did it mean that a dead witch had been resurrected again? No, one of them going and coming back... Did that mean coming back here? Maybe, three years ago, there was a surviving witch candidate in the witchcraft sacrifice mission. Three years later, she came here again and mingled among them.

Was she a player or an NPC? Why would she do that?

The creepy feeling slowly climbed to the soles of Qi Leren's feet from the darkness in all directions, and then slowly climbed up his body along the nerves, stirring his imagination, making the already strange situation more complicated and confusing.

If someone survived last time and came to this underground palace again, who would it be? He, Ning Zhou, Lu Youxin, and Isabel were the only people who are alive now. The Ellie-Aisha sisters were unknown. Which one was most likely?

No, it was impossible to make effective inferences. From another angle, if that person received this task again, she would be familiar with the task flow and terrain. If you were familiar with the terrain…

Between crackles, Qi Leren suddenly recalled the situation when he was in the swamp tower. At that time, Lu Youxin asked Ye Xia if she needed to copy a map of the underground palace for her. Ye Xia told the truth under Lu Youxin's skill: she refused.

At that time, he and Lu Youxin thought it was because Ye Xia didn't trust them, but now that he thought about it, could it be because she was very familiar with the terrain of the underground palace, so she didn't need this quarter map at all?

But Ye Xia was dead. He saw and touched her body with his own eyes, and Xie Wanwan who killed her had died…

Was the body fake? The idea flashed by, and Qi Leren himself felt funny. This was not a detective novel, to be capable of putting the body in a false pretence. He had seen the bodies of these two people with his own eyes.

Isabel let out a whimper, struggling as if she had been strangled, looking very pained. Qi Leren checked her condition, and suddenly there was a flash of light. Could it be Isabel who went and came back? She also said that she’s lost her memory. Maybe in this lost memory, she followed her sister to the underground palace. For some reason, she escaped and lost these memories. Then three years later, she came here again.

Could it be what he thinks?

Oh, and the altar.

"Now all the seven witches are dead. According to the clue given by the wall, shouldn’t the altar have appeared?" Qi Leren said to Ning Zhou in wonder, "But now it seems that the altar hasn’t appeared here. Could there be some conditions that need to be reached?"

Ning Zhou silently shook her head, saying she didn't know.

"She seems to be about to wake up." Qi Leren caught a glimpse of Isabel's eyelids trembling a few times and immediately squatted down beside her.

Isabel mumbled, as if shouting for her sister, and finally woke up from a coma. When she woke up, she just lay on the ground and looked at the dark ceiling as if she had lost her soul.

"Isabel?" Qi Leren called to her.

Isabel suddenly got up from the ground as if possessed, took Qi Leren's arm and screamed, "It's her! She's back! It can't be wrong, it must be her!"

"Calm down and speak slowly, who is it?" Qi Leren pressed her shoulder and asked carefully.

Isabel, who calmed down from her excitement, stared at him with empty eyes. Her eyes were out of focus. She pursed her lips and whispered, "...The woman with the knife."

"Ye Xia? Have you seen her? " Qi Leren asked again.

Isabel's body was shaking and her voice was shaking: "Yes, three years ago, she was in the same carriage with my sister..."

Isabel, who was still in chaos, intermittently told what she’d recalled. From her messy and disordered statement, the memory she lost three years ago was slowly presented to the two people.

Her sister was taken away after being selected as a witch candidate. Isabel secretly inquired about the place where her sister was locked up. When the day of sacrifice came, she quietly followed the carriage to the forest and saw the witch candidates who had been driven out of the carriage. One of the ones with her sister was Ye Xia.

They were driven into the jungle by domestic dogs, and Isabel was worried about her sister, so she ventured into the forbidden forest after everyone left. At that time it was getting dark, and in the deep twilight, she frantically searched for her sister, trying to take her out of the forest, but she was quickly lost there.

Then, she met a woman.

It was a woman so beautiful she could not be described in words. In the sunset, she stood quietly under a withered giant tree, with a bloodied corpse sprawled at her feet. She looked at her, and her eyes couldn't tell whether it was coldness or gentleness, but only by looking at her like this, she had forgotten everything, even forgetting that there was a corpse lying at her feet.

"You are not the chosen one, why did you come here?" The woman asked her, her voice graceful and elegant as a lark singing in the morning light.

"I came to see my sister," Isabel answered.

When she heard her answer, the woman showed an expression like a smile, and the slightly curled corners of her mouth turned her from a perfect sculpture into a living person. She said briskly, "It's not the time for you to come, come back three years later."

When she heard her words, Isabel seemed to be possessed, and she couldn't help agreeing. When her consciousness began to blur, she struggled to ask the last question: "Who are you?"

The woman still smiled calmly at her, but gave a shocking answer: "I am the one you will serve."

After that, she gently touched her finger on her lips and smiled mysteriously and charmingly: "Brave little girl, you have to keep this secret for me."

Memories came to an abrupt end here, and Isabel woke up in her own bed and lost that memory until she saw Xie Wanwan's bloody body in the underground palace and finally remembered the scene in the forest three years ago.

Qi Leren was shocked speechless. After a long time, he murmured: "Is the person you saw the Devil of Fraud?"

Isabel covered her face and said trembling, "I don't know... I don't know who she is."

Frowning slightly, Qi Leren looked at Ning Zhou and found her deep in thought.

"If the Devil of Fraud really came to the sacrifice three years ago, it would explain why the last witch died so tragically." Qi Leren recalled the bloody tips on the cliff and the witches he had met, and his mind had vaguely connected things together.

For some purpose, three years ago, the Devil of Fraud joined the mission disguised as an ordinary person. She was happy to see human strife, deception and despair. She played with the group of poor witches and provoked them to kill each other. He still remembered that Isabel's sister was locked in an iron coffin and was burned alive by pouring in molten iron. She said, "I didn't hurt her... She lied to you", and this "she" probably referred to the Devil of Fraud. And the witch who created the dreamworld. She twisted in the love that she wanted, and constantly destroyed other witches. I'm afraid it was just a game for the Devil of Fraud.

But what happened to Ye Xia? She also took part in the sacrifice for three years, and then she survived? On one hand, she may have been the final winner of the last sacrifice, or on the other, she may have just survived. However, she survived, and came back here again three years later, and then died in the hands of Xie Wanwan.

It was too strange, it didn't make sense at all. For a woman who had survived the task under the control of the Lord of Fraud, it didn’t make sense for her to have simply died here!

Qi Leren thought more and more, and looked forward with empty eyes. Ning Zhou stood there, quietly looking at the words on the wall, just a figure which easily attracted his attention.

Qi Leren suddenly remembered his situation of talking with Ye Xia in the dreamworld. At that time, Ye Xia had said to him…

-Whether you are truly loved or falsely loved, you are happy as long as you are loved. Sometimes love can't help but help itself. Even if you know it’s impossible, you won't give up easily.

Was that "Ye Xia" herself? Who was the impossible love she said she was dedicated to?

In the silence, a familiar voice came.

"Oh, I finally found you."

Qi Leren almost jumped up from the ground as this voice came from the door of the temple. A translucent virtual shadow stood there, like the wandering souls everywhere in the underground palace.

Lu Youxin's phantom stood there with her arms crossed and looked at them calmly. Her voice mechanically said, "Congratulations on winning the lucky prize. I am a kind-hearted person and this is the final time I’ll do a good deed of the day. I’ll tell you three crucial things, whether you can live and leave here depends on this. "

"Lu Youxin?" Qi Leren's voice was lost. No matter how you looked at it, the person in front of them was not like a living person, but a spirit.

Lu Youxin seemed to be unable to hear his voice, and her voice continued stiffly: "First, I am dead. Second, the woman who killed me seems to be Xie Wanwan. Third, she can transfer her soul. She took my body. To sum up, the murderer is Ye Xia."

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Editor’s Note: Double release today because it slipped my mind yesterday Σ(ﾟДﾟ)

A major plot element has finally come into play! Keep the Devil of Fraud in the back of your minds, folks! ;)

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#Welcome to the Nightmare Game #欢迎来到噩梦游戏 #danmei

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ifeellikeameowster · 4 years

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E.V.O.L Chapter 2 - On No!

Chapter Summary: Logan is finally done with his workday and can now retire to his living quarter upstairs. He starts reviewing his notes for the day only to find a few inconsistencies and a startling conclusion...

Warnings: Beginnings of Yandere like behavior, mentions of stalking, emotional breakdown, breaking of objects.

Pairings: One-sided analogical.

Word Count: 4k+

Chapter followed by Author’s Note then Tag List under the read more:

One track mind, one track heart.

If I fail, I'll fall apart.

Maybe it is all a test.

'Cause I feel like I'm the worst,

So I always act like I'm the best.

Logan Sumner, self proclaimed magical child prodigy and warlock extraordinaire, always had three cups of coffee throughout his typical work day. One cup before breakfast, one in the middle of lunch, and finally one after his dinner. Dr Sumner was well known in the magical community as a stickler for his routine and the outbursts that were sure to follow if anything trivial ever dared to interrupt said routine. Though the particular interruptions that had occurred earlier that day hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as they should have. Almost as if-

He tightened his lips and jerkily shook his head to rid himself of that train of thought before it could even leave the station. Instead, he steered ever sturdily and steadily forward and into his quaint dining room table’s only occupying chair. It was time for dinner, after all. He whistled out into the air of the sparsely decorated apartment atop his shop for his two wonderful and trustworthy Familiars.

Moriariy, punctual as per usual, was the first to join him. Flying in from the direction of his bedroom and landing at the other end of the table, where a small plate of little seeds and several lush fruits awaited him. His other Familiar, however, followed along at his typical slower pace. Slinking in from the direction of the stairwell and stopping beside him at the foot of the table, where a larger plate of tenderly cooked meats awaited him.

“Did you have a good run, Sheppard?” Logan asks the Valravn as he runs a gentle hand along the canine’s back.

Sheppard, who was slightly more wild in nature than the Yatagarasu, would occasionally leave the shop for the later half of their work day in order to have a refreshing romp in the nearest forest- the one just outside of Painic Park. Logan never once worried over his return, for his Familiars had never failed him before. Which is one of the many reasons he got along better with them than with his other, more humanoid peers.

The handsome pitch black wolf with scattered feathers along his form, bird’s talons as front legs, and a sharp beak perched at the end of his snout gave a tired out, low swooping nod at the query. His warlock gave him a quick pat on the head for his reply and turned away to focus on his own meal.

It was a hearty and well balanced dinner of steak and salad, yet Logan could not help but feel as though he was craving something else entirely different. Perhaps it was the usual pull towards his work he so often felt? Nodding along to the notion, he picked up his cutlery in order to dig in. One cannot think well on an empty stomach, as the saying goes. Once he began eating, his polite and surprisingly patient Familiars began to eat their own meals as well.

After dinner he immediately washes the small amount of dishes used during the day. It was best not to let them pile up too much, as he was a man that loathed disorder and messiness.

Moriarty swooped in to help place the assorted plates and glasses back on the shelves while Sheppard strode his way over to the living room to lay between Logan’s grey loveseat and the small brick fireplace. Knowing full well that that seat was where Logan would be spending the next couple of hours as he casually went over the day’s work.

Moriarty, on the other hand, would spend the time flitting between nesting on the cushion beside him, perching on the back of the loveseat, and resting himself upon Logan’s shoulder. His movements were easily predictable for Logan, who hardly ever got startled by the bird. Well, with the exception of…

The warlock pinched the bridge of his nose as he made his own way into the living room while holding his last cup of coffee of the day, sending Moriarty a look that somehow managed to be questioning, exasperated, and fond all rolled into one as he passed by him.

Why had the bird practically launched himself towards their newest client? Normally, if his Familiars invaded a strangers personal space so abruptly upon first meeting them then that meant that they saw them as a threat and were acting fast to protect their warlock. But that had apparently not been the case at all! Moriarity had....had proceeded to cuddle the darkly dressed man in an overly affectionate and quite frankly rude manner. His Familiars, as he had mentioned to the fellow, usually did not like anyone other than Logan. Only finding exception in long time acquaintances that he held a particular camaraderie with. Especially Moriarty because he was Logan’s first and therefore most bonded. The client in question, however...Had seemed to not mind at all...And had just happily soaked up the bird’s affection towards him. He had taken it all in with an alarmingly charming smile and softened voice that almost made his knees-

He falls into the loveseat, gripping the edge of the cushions with one hand and trying not to spill his fresh coffee with the other as he sits down. Anchoring his thoughts before he lets them set sail into some illusionary sunset. He needed to forget about that odd incident. He needed to start thinking straight again. He needed to get some more work done.

Don't do love, don't do friends.

I'm only after success.

Don't need a relationship.

I'll never soften my grip.

With a resolved sigh the warlock reached over to the end table beside the loveseat, placed the just barely saved cup atop it’s coaster, scooped up the couple of notebooks that were there, and began looking through his notes on all of his meetings for the day. As he read through them, however, he began to feel unnaturally antsy. He chewed on his bottom lip. He tapped his nails against the cover. He hopped his foot continuously up and down. Sensing his uneasiness, Moriarty lets out a questioning caw soon followed by Sheppard’s concerned woof.

“I’m fine.” He rasps out, “It’s just…” His eyes flicker towards the second notebook, the one now laying right beside his thigh. The one he would read second. Because he always read everything in chronological order and he would never skip around. Not for anything. Because it was very important that he remained well organized and timely in his work. So he would leave that one for later, for only after he had finished this one first. He would leave it there and he would-

Proceed to snatch it up immediately, entirely disregarding the previous notebook, which promptly and tragically fell onto the floor. Poor first notebook. Your fate belongs with the pen now.

“It’s this.” He hisses out as he flips on over to page thirty two. The beginning of his notes on his noon appointment, who had actually arrived an overwhelmingly terrible amount of one and a half hours late. Which had set him further on edge than he already was after dealing with Misses Stockbean around ten o’clock that morning, who had demanded more Ozian Poppy seeds than the original agreed amount for half the usual price. So understandably, he might have been a tad snappy towards the bloke at first but he had tried to soften at least a little bit after seeing how anxious the poor guy really was. But then, oh then, Moriarty had preceded to act entirely too strange for him which set Logan right back on edge again. After he had calmed his Familiar down with promises of extra fruits at dinner that night if he stayed quietly upstairs for the remainder of the appointment, he had finally been able to start to interview him.

Monday, September 23rd. Virgil Spurling. Age 26. Self Employed. Lives with his three adoptive parents, Thomas Proudfoot, Talyn Banes, and Joan Vivas. Only spends time with either the three of them, or his two honorary cousins Remington Sexton and Otto Toby Haggard. No living friends outside of the family. No current romantic or sexual partners. Has dark brown hair with light brown highlights. Has long bangs that fall over his eyes, sometimes almost covering them completely. Has rather stormy hazel blue eyes that almost appear violet depending on the lighting he is in. Has pronounced dark circles under his eyes- which are concerning. Has a lovely onyx teardrop piercing on his left cheek and a pair of matching dahlia piercings besides his lips. Has rounded, soft pink lips with a thinner upper lip and a thicker, more bitable lower lip and-

Wait a minute, just what kind of notes had he been taking the entire time he was conducting this interview?! He skips ahead two pages and he’s still just on the physical description section. His physical descriptions had always been more concise and to the point before now. He didn’t quite understand what had happened this time in order to change that. He skims ahead more to try and pinpoint any change or clue anywhere in all of this absurdity.

Has brushed his bangs aside and placed them beside his ear to allow me to see that he has a tattoo behind his ear, on the side of his neck, comprised of a complicated swirl of black roses and thorns. It looks like it would have been painful to get but compliments the structure of the junction between his neck and shoulder nicely. It makes one wonder if he would appreciate someone’s equally difficult yet proudly designed tattoos of assorted constellations across one’s rib cages-

Okay, just why had he started talking about his own tattoos? These notebooks weren’t for some diary-esque documentation of himself. They were for taking professional notes so that he made sure he remembered the most important details of, and information for, all of his assorted clientele. Skip ahead further!

He is surprisingly smart. He is as quick witted as he is sharp-tongued. Metaphorically, of course. Physically, his actual tongue is baby pink and soft, if the few times it has darted out to lick nervously over his lips and teeth are of any indication. He hates pick up lines. Understandable. I find them pointless as well. He. Him. He too has memorized the entire periodic table of elements and is actually fluent in using their abbreviated symbols to make multiple words. Impressive. Breathtaking-

Well at least he seemed to be finally past the physical description now. Yet those strange sentences kept popping up and intertwining themselves where they had no right to be. Even if that had been rather breathtaking at the time it still...It still didn’t explain...Skip ahead! Skip ahead!

He lost his only friend at much too young of an age. I couldn't even begin to imagine how he must feel. How I would have felt were I in his place. He deserves to be comforted and well looked after. He needs a hug. A nice long, extended hug. Perhaps, seeing as I am the only one here with him as of the moment and thusly the only person currently available to do so I could-

Woah, woah, woah. Slow down there past Logan! One should never initiate physical contact with their client without their express consent. He knew that, of course. He knew that and yet he had written...He had written far too much about himself, is what he had done. Wasn’t he supposed to be finding Virgil a suitable romantic and/or sexual partner? How could he do that if he was too busy writing about himself and what...what he wanted? And wait, he wanted? He...yearned? And just for what, exactly? Skip-

He likes poetry. Specifically gothic poetry. That is one of my many favorites as well. I have a rather extensive collection in my shop that I could share with him-

Oh Merlin.

He prefers Astronomy as well. Rather surprising, actually, given his darker appearance and habit of speaking- I had wrongly pegged him for someone much more superstitious. A nice surprise. A welcome one. He seems hyper fixated on the plethora of bird-associated constellations which is highly endearing. There is a new large telescope being currently housed in the recently opened observatory section of the Morph Museum, which is not that far of a walk from my shop. Perhaps I could take him-

Oh Merryweather.

He likes bath bombs and the hand soap that foams. He likes collecting seashells and storing little hidden trinkets in them. He likes feeling the gentler tides lap across his feet but dislikes ever actually going any further into the water unless someone he trusts is there with him. Meanwhile, I personally haven’t been out metal detecting in a while maybe I could go with-

Oh Mages of Both Old and New!

I know exactly what I want and who I want to be.

I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine.

I'm now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy.

Oh, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh!

Logan tosses the notebook back down onto the couch, a notably much safer place than the floor, and lets out a choked, broken sob. Using his hands to haphazardly tug on his hair, he somehow hopes to numb his ever spiraling thoughts like a brain freeze might do so after drinking a cold beverage too fast but it’s not working. Nothing’s working and-

And there’s a lick on one of his hands. He blinks aside a few tears he hadn’t even realized had fallen in the first place and sees that Sheppard had risen to his height by standing on his hind paws and was now trying to gently get his warlock to stop abusing his own scalp. Meanwhile, Moriarty was darting back and forth across the room, obviously trying to locate the source of Logan’s clear distress. He manages a breathy chuckle at that despite his current haggard condition and decides to wrap his arms gently around Sheppard’s feathered scuff instead.

“Really,” he praises, “What would I do without you two?”

Sheppard huffs back at him, which roughly translated to Nothing, obviously. And causes Logan to break out into a more genuine laugh this time before sinking to his knees and bringing the pup softly down with him. He evens his breathing out as Shep licks consolingly at his hands and arms. “What am I going to do, boy?” he mumbles as he uses his dress shirt’s pocket handkerchief to dab at the stray tears with one arm as he still clings to the wolf with his other. “This can’t be happening, right? It just can’t.” He gets no response at that, however, probably since the poor canine can’t entirely grasp the emotional severity of the situation.

Deciding to just toss the handkerchief into the nearest bin instead of sending it through the wash as per usual whenever he dirtied it, he finally lets go of Sheppard, stands back up, and brushes off his pants legs. Upon glancing towards the looming form of the notebook where it still lay tauntingly on the couch’s cushions, he guffaws a more strained and panicked laugh as his thought train not only takes off down the tracks but also entirely derails off course.

If you are not very careful,

Your possessions will possess you.

TV taught me how to feel,

Now real life has no appeal.

“What have I always told myself, hm?” He gestures wildy, causing Moriarty to stop his frantic searching in order to look towards him and for Sheppard to perk back up into attention as well. “What have I always told myself even way back in school? Even though other more hormonal mages always disagreed with me, what were the words I always stuck by, huh?” The two Familiars shared a brief confused look between the two of them.

Logan stops to run a hand through his hair in hopes of straightening it up a bit from it’s tousled state. “What words not only got me through school but also allowed me to reach my full potential and achieve the placement of top student?” He allows himself to take a moment to stroke a hand over each of the surfaces of all the awards aligning the top shelf of his smallest bookcase, located on the other side of the loveseat than the end table was. These were the backups of the awards he kept in his shop downstairs, just in case a particularly rowdy customer ever managed to break one. After his fingers left the “Best Little Potion Maker’s” one, he pushed himself away from the area entirely and headed swiftly towards the hallway in front of the staircase.

It has no appeal.

It has no appeal!

His ever attentive Familiars followed worriedly behind him until they stop just before the steps. He flourishes a harsh, pointed finger at the few portraits hanging on the wall there. “What words were going to eventually get me all the way to the top of Heartwish City’s very own magical community? But are now just...Just dead pipe dreams!” His two most trusted creature companions, still ever so confused by his current trail of logic, made hushed little questioning noises.

Ripping the topmost portrait off of the wall, he began to hiss his next words at it as if the object itself had managed to personally offend him. “Focus on your work. Never fall prey to your feelings. You need to be successful in life more than you need to personally engage in any inane romantic or sexual endeavors.” Merlin’s painted facade stared blankly and unchangingly back at him. In utter retaliation at the silence, he tosses it frame and all down the stairs. Upon remembering Logan’s aversion to untidiness, Sheppard slinks slowly down them to go collect the scattered remains.

Don't want cash, don't want card.

Want it fast, want it hard.

Don't need money, don't need fame.

I just want to make a change.

“Lot of good that did me, boys!” He continues to deliriously shout out, “All these years and not even so much of an inkling of said feelings and yet over the course of one idiotically ineffable day I’ve managed to gain what is essentially a childish schoolyard crush!” He managed to breathe out all in one go before slumping tiredly against the side of the stairwell.

In a Eureka! moment Moriarty begins to excitedly flit to and fro while hurriedly chirping at his warlock. Almost too fast for him to be able to sense the meaning of. “Wait, slow down a bit Mori. What are you-” More hard to decipher chirps, “Hold on, move in? What on earth gave you that idea? No, he’s not going to-” More persistent caws this time, “Well, of course we both like him, I’ve literally just now established that already and- And wait just a moment.”

He scoops the bird gently into his palms. “You liked him first, didn’t you?” One short caw confirmed a resounding Yes. for him. “Did you know, then? Could you have possibly sensed that he’s perfect for me? For us?” He stutters out a breathy laugh, “That’s what that whole debacle was about, wasn’t it?” The crow coos soothingly back up at him and gives him a love bite on the bridge of his nose. Logan releases Moriarty back into the air, along with the emotions connected to his previous outburst, and leans back to place his hands firmly on his hips while he stood proudly back up on his own two feet.

“Just look at me, behaving so ridiculously over the top for such a trivial matter. Throwing a temper tantrum even! Just what would my old professors say, if they saw me now?” He shuffles over to the other side of the hallway where a small cabinet is and opens one of the drawers. “After all, I am more than perfectly capable of handling more than one problem at a time, am I not?” There was both a cheerfully agreeable caw and howl at that, which caused him to finally smile happily again. “And besides, it might not even last all that long. Crushes and mere infatutations are usually short lived!” He rifles through the drawer’s contents until he finds another portrait that was dusty and slightly cracked in one of the upper hand corners. Shutting the drawer and striding back over to the stairwell he holds it up to see if it’ll fit in the arrangement. “Yes, this’ll do perfectly.”

I just wanna change.

I just wanna change!

“And well, if it does last longer or just so happens to escalate further, then...” He concludes as he places the portrait on the spot with a short spell to fix the hook he had broken earlier and steps back to admire the new set up, “His parents never specified that I couldn't be the one I chose for his match, now did they?” Morgan Le Fey, now sitting atop the others as if on a throne made up of the mages, gives him a subtly wicked and tilted smile in response.

He mirrors her expression for the briefest of moments before spinning on his heel and heading towards the only window on the top floor of his building. The warlock steps into his bedroom, pushes the curtains aside, and undoes the latches in the center. As he thrusts the two panes wide open, Moriarty joins his side once more.

“Ah, perfectly punctual as always, Moriarty.” he praises as the bird lands on the back of his hand before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially to him, “Before any new endeavor one embarks on in their life, they should always research properly first, yes?” After his Familiar nods in agreement he continues onwards, “And I’m sure you want to see him again soon yourself, right?” Upon realizing who his warlock was talking about, the bird fluffs up his feathers in anticipation. “Exactly, so this all makes perfect sense.” He waves away any other possible negative notions with a sweep of his hand and turns swiftly back towards the open window.

The sun was setting now. The doctor briefly recalled a time, as a kid, where he had stayed up long past his bedtime not only to see the sunset but to also test out his newest telescope. Back then, before he had properly entered into his magical schooling, he had been far more into scientific pursuits at the time. Though he still held a liking towards them now that he was older, what really currently consumed him was his work with all things magical and mythical. Though now, after today, a new beast of a subject was rounding the corner to have it’s turn eating away at his soul. Maybe, just maybe, if he was lucky enough, he could manage to take a bite out of it first.

“Alright, Moriarity, you know what you must do.” He interrupted the nostalgic scene and swung the arm the Yatagarasu was perched upon out the window and into the open picturesque evening air. His voice took on a booming echo, “Go forth and gather all that we must know, Though never your own cover you must blow.”

All three of his Familiar’s eyes flashed with the royal blue color of Logan’s magic before the third eye disappeared into the feathers of his forehead and his third leg was tucked away into the feathers of his tail. They both breathed a collective sigh of relief at another spell well cast, despite the roller coaster of emotions that they had all been through that day. Moriarty gave him one final nod in reassurance of their plan and took off into the ever changing dusk sky.

The warlock stayed by the window long enough to watch until his Familiar’s form disappeared over the horizon then set about closing and locking it back up. His other Familiar trudged upwards from the stairs, through the small apartment, and into his bedroom. Giving him a huff to announce his presence.

“Oh, you cleaned it up?” he asked the Valravn, who butted his head against his thigh, “Thank you, though I could have gotten it myself later.” A grunt followed that and he chuckled as he scratched behind the canine’s ears, “Yes, yes you're a good boy. Now let’s head to bed, shall we?” Sheppard pulled away from the affection to howl at the window. “Moriarty? He’s...running an errand. He’ll be a while.” To which he received the most pointed look a dog’s face could ever muster. He shivered as he felt the intrinsically implied Can’t hide things from me, we��re bonded. and cleared his throat to correct himself, “He’s watching over our dear new acquaintance, Virgil. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to meet him yourself soon.”

Much more satisfied by that answer, Shep hopped up onto his rightful spot at the foot of the bed. Where he settled down to wait as Logan went through his nightly routine of partially getting ready for the next work day, cleaning himself up, and changing into his pajamas.

Meanwhile, the coffee mug in the living room on the dark wooden end table still sat forgotten and untouched. Where it would no doubt remain throughout the entire night.

I'm gonna live, I'm gonna fly.

I'm gonna fail, I'm gonna die.

I'm gonna live, I'm gonna fly.

I'm gonna fail, gonna die, die, die, die.

A/N: So I’m still a dirty rotten no good procrastinator. But! Hopefully it’ll help make up for the wait just a little bit that I’ll be posting both chapters 2 and 3 in quick secession. Along with a short, one-off Creativitwins fanfic (coming soon) based off of the latest episode (SVS Part 2). Hope you’ll enjoy! ^ . ^ “”” Also, I’ll no longer be going through the original post for reblogs to add to the taglist. So if anyone wants to be added to it please dm or ask me and let me know! ;3

Tag List:

@accidental-sanders

@ren-allen

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#sanders sides #sanders sides au #sanders sides e.v.o.l au #e.v.o.l au #my fics #virgil sanders #logan sanders #character talyn #character!talyn #Analogical #one sided analogical #yandere #stalker #familiar moriarty #familiar sheppard #I love logan's familiars sm y'all have no idea #this chapter is the epitemy of that boy that escalated quickly meme #and it's only gonna get crazier from here #rubs hands together evilly

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carrotsofavonlea · 4 years

Text

Drive Me Crazy

Epilogue

[AO3]

It had been a year since the centennial dance (and since Anne and Gilbert had officially begun dating for real). College life had been tricky at first, but Anne soon sunk into it, finding some new kindred spirits along the way, although she still had her beloved Diana with her at Queens. Gilbert was a thousand miles away in Toronto, but that didn’t stop them. Thanks to modern technology, they were constantly texting and calling - but what Anne adored even more where the occasional hand written letters from Gilbert. Some of the other girls in her dorm sneered whenever Anne received the little notes in the familiar handwriting, but she didn’t let it get to her. They were just jealous that their boyfriends didn’t write love letters to them.

“Are you doing anything special tonight?” Diana had just come back from a lecture, dumping her bag on her bed as Anne looked up from her desk.

“No…” Anne sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Maybe a video chat but that’s it.”

It was their anniversary of their first official date. Things had not started conventionally between Anne and Gilbert: did they choose when they started fake dating? The centennial? The first time they met as kids? But instead they went with an impartial first official date as the anniversary day.

“It sucks not being with him, today of all days.”

Anne sighed, looking back at the small framed picture on her desk. It was from the summer when they had organised a big group bonfire. In the photo, the sun was almost setting and Anne had her arms around Gilbert as he gave her a piggyback, her head fitting perfectly in the crook between his neck and shoulder as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. Her pinboard in her room was like a scrapbook mixed with a diary with all her timetables scattered between notes from Gilbert and photos of all her friends at home. Diana often called her side of the room a “Gilbert shrine” but Anne knew she didn’t mean any cruel sentiment behind it. Besides, from the photos Gilbert had sent of his room, he had done pretty much the same.

“It’s only a few more weeks until spring break.” Diana held out her arms and Anne sat next to her, leaning her head on her shoulder as Diana comforted her. “You’ll be able to make up for it.”

“I suppose so...I just wish he could be here, even for just the day.”

Diana smiled, but there was something behind it that Anne couldn’t read. She shrugged it off, not giving it much thought any longer.

“I better go, I’ve got practise.” Diana stood up, gathering some papers and shoving them in her bag.

“I’m glad you’re still playing piano.” Anne went over to her own side of the room, flopping onto her bed. “But I thought you didn’t have a show for a while?”

Diana hesitated for a moment, “Oh well...you can never be too practised. I don’t know how long I’ll be. See you later.” And just like that she’d practically run from the room.

It was strange...Diana didn’t normally keep secrets from Anne.

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it too long before her phone lit up; a big picture of Gilbert pulling a stupid face she’d set as his contact photo told her he was trying to video call her.

“Hey!” his big cheesy grin filled the screen, but it dropped when he saw Anne didn’t match his enthusiasm. “What’s wrong?”

Anne shrugged, “Just missing you, I guess.”

He smiled, never tiring of hearing that. “And I miss you, carrots.”

The video quality was worse than usual, and there was a lot of background noise.

“Are you going somewhere?” Anne tried to see what was in the background, but Gilbert held the phone closer to his face.

“Uh, just a walk…”

“...Ok?” he was acting weird.

“What have you been up to today?” he tried to steer the conversation to something casual.

“Not much. Studying. Lectures. More studying.” she laughed, leaning on her elbow as she talked, kicking her legs behind her on the bed. “What about you?”

“I didn’t have any classes today. Oh sorry!” he was too busy looking at the screen that he bumped into someone on the street. The camera panned up slightly, and Anne thought there was something oddly familiar about one of the buildings behind Gilbert.

But it must just be her imagination.

“I’ve got a gift for you.” he said, once again looking at Anne. “But it’s on it’s way from Toronto so I don’t know how long it’ll take to get to you. Should be soon though.” there was a boyish grin on his face, and Anne knew something was definitely up. She’d known him practically all her life and knew when he was lying or hiding something.

“Hang on a moment.” he said, lowering the phone to his side so all she could see was the side of his jeans. There was muttering but Anne couldn’t make out what was being said. “Sorry about that.” he said, holding the camera so only half of his face was visible.

“Gilbert Blythe what are you up to?” she laughed.

“Nothing, nothing.” but his voice was higher than normal.

There came a knock at Anne’s door and she sighed, couldn’t she have just one moment?

“Hold on, someone’s at my door. I’ll go tell them to go away.” she left her phone on her bed, getting up to politely shoo away whoever was at the door.

“I hope you don’t tell me to go away.” Gilbert stood at the door, phone in his hand.

It took Anne a second to register what was happening. He was here? Gilbert? But the phone? And Toronto? But he’s…”Gilbert?”

She threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking him to the floor. He wrapped his arms around her in return spinning her around in the small hallway.

“What are you doing here?” she cupped his cheeks in her hands as if to check he was real, brushing a curl from his forehead.

“I couldn’t miss the chance to celebrate a year since Anne Shirley Cuthbert says she loves me.” he smiled, leaning forward to kiss her, but their lips had just touched when Anne pulled back.

“But wait, how did you even get in the building?”

“Diana knew all along, she helped me plan it all.” he said, his arms still holding her waist. “That’s who I was talking to just now, she let me in.”

It all started to make sense now, why everyone was acting weird. Anne made a mental note to remember to thank Diana later. But right now, all she wanted was to focus on Gilbert.

“How long are you here for?”

“I want to say as long as you’ll let me, but I have class Monday. My flight leaves Sunday afternoon but we still have one and a half days together.” he pressed his forehead against hers before properly kissing her.

“Do I have to stay in the hallway?” he raised an eyebrow, making Anne laugh as she grabbed his hand and pulled him into her dorm room.

Over the years whenever anyone asked them, “ how did you get together?”, the answer was always met with a laugh and a response of “ It’s a long story ”. But Anne would enjoy telling it: the tragical romance of best friends turned enemies turned fake dating turned real lovers.

It was complicated and messy, but it was real.

///

Tag List: @rohaintahquil @hakunamademons @thxnderclouds@awaeforlife@m1rkw00dpr1ncess @mrs-shirley-cuthbert-blythe@nerdybrunette @i-ammischiefmanaged @sarahisatotalgeek @neomikaha@etsatymton @parkeroffline

Thank you for all the support this fic has recieved! I can't believe it! None of my fics have blown up like this so it's crazy and I'm amazed this many people wanted to read something I've written! I'm so glad people enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

#awae #shirbert #awae au #shirbert au #anne shirley #gilbert blythe

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